Five handwashing steps that can help protect everyone’s health

People might think handwashing is second nature. But a survey found that many people still skip it. In the survey, nearly half (48 percent) of adults admitted they forget to wash their hands at important moments, like after visiting a grocery store, coffee shop or a health care setting. What’s even more surprising is that one in five said they choose not to wash their hands at all.

That’s a big deal, since handwashing with soap and water is one of the easiest and most effective ways to help stop the spread of germs. And it can do even more. Diarrheal diseases and pneumonia are two of the leading reasons children die young globally. Correctly handwashing with soap and water can help protect one in three children who get sick with diarrhea and almost one in five from respiratory infections, such as a cold or flu.

Here’s why handwashing matters below, along with tips for doing it properly. 

In this article:

Why is handwashing important?

Handwashing is easy, affordable and can make a big difference in health, especially for kids. Studies show that proper handwashing education can help reduce the number of common illnesses like colds, the flu and stomach bugs.

Teaching people about handwashing helps them, their classmates, teammates and families stay healthy. It can also help cut down on sick days due to things like diarrhea and respiratory infections. In fact, handwashing education in the community has been shown to reduce the number of school days children missed because of stomach-related illness by 29 to 57 percent.

Healthy and safe handwashing is even promoted every year on Global Handwashing Day. Small habits can make a long-lasting impact.

Proper handwashing techniques

Germs are easily spread through hand-to-hand or hand-to-surface contact. People might touch shared surfaces, change diapers, sneeze or handle food. They encounter germs all day long. Once germs are on a person's hands, they can spread to their eyes, nose or mouth.

Proper handwashing technique may be more involved than one might expect. Even small mistakes, like skipping soap or rushing can leave germs lingering around. One small study even found that dirty hands were transferring bacteria to spice containers while cooking.

To help keep everyone’s health on track, here’s a step-by-step guide for washing hands the right way, especially during cold, flu and back-to-school season. 

How to wash hands in five steps

Handwashing can be broken down into five simple steps: wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry. Here’s how to do it:

1. Wetting hands with clean, running water — warm or cold is fine. Hot water may cause more skin irritation.
2. Applying soap and lathering well. It’s recommended to cover all surfaces of the front and back of hands. Soap does more than just make bubbles. It lifts dirt and germs from the skin.
3. Scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. A good rule of thumb is to hum “Happy birthday” from start to finish twice. Research shows that scrubbing for 15 to 30 seconds removes more germs than a quick rinse.
4. Rinsing thoroughly under clean, running water. Making sure all of the soap (and the germs it picked up) go down the drain.
5. Drying the hands completely with a clean towel or air dryer. Germs spread more easily on wet skin, so drying is an important final step.

Hand hygiene areas to focus on

Germs love to hide in the details. That’s why it’s important for people to give a little extra attention to these high-risk zones:

• Between fingers
• Under nails
• Backs of hands

A quick scrub might not always be enough, so it’s important to slow down and wash for at least 20 seconds.

Additional handwashing tips

Listed below are a few extra tips to help kids, caregivers and even adults build smarter handwashing routines that stick.

When should people wash their hands?

Germs can spread during everyday activities, especially when preparing or eating food. Washing hands with soap and water before cooking, after handling uncooked meat or eggs and wiping countertops or cleaning other surfaces with chemicals are a few ways to help prevent germs such as salmonella from spreading.

Handwashing with soap and water is also important after using the bathroom or touching anything dirty, like garbage, tissues or diapers. Even a single gram of human feces can contain 1 trillion germs, so these moments matter. To reduce the spread of germs like norovirus or E. coli, make handwashing part of the routine after any of the following:

• Being in a public space
• Blowing the nose, coughing or sneezing
• Caring for someone who is sick
• Touching garbage
• Treating a cut or wound

Making handwashing a habit

Handwashing with water and soap is a way to remove germs and prevent infections. Since people often touch their eyes, nose and mouth without realizing it, clean hands help stop germs from entering the body. Handwashing also keeps germs from spreading to food, drinks and shared surfaces, like doorknobs and tables. Teaching and practicing good hygiene habits helps protect others, their family and their community, which helps reduce illness and keep more people healthier.

So, how can people start building these habits? Parents can continue giving their kids frequent reminders and leading by example. Children often learn by watching others, so following parents or caregivers wash up regularly is big.

They might consider practicing the five steps of handwashing together and repeating them throughout the day (before meals and after recess).

Keeping hand sanitizer close by

In most situations, handwashing with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs. But when it’s not an option, hand sanitizers can help. Choose an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. It’s important to rub it in until the hands feel dry, which may take around 20 seconds. Young children should be supervised when they are using hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing some of it.

Hand sanitizers won’t remove everything, including some tough germs like C. diff or harmful chemicals like pesticides, but they are a helpful backup when people are not near soap and water.

Drying hands completely after handwashing

Research shows that it’s easier for germs to spread on wet hands versus dry ones, which is why drying is an important final step in the handwashing process. Using a clean towel or air-drying are the best bets.

Common handwashing mistakes to avoid

Some effort is better than none. Still, there are a few common missteps that can make handwashing less effective. Here are a few for people to keep in mind:

• Not washing hands long enough
• Not using enough soap
• Washing hands in contaminated water
• Using baby wipes as an alternative

By avoiding these habits and making handwashing a part of a daily routine, people can help lower their chances of getting sick. It can also help protect their loved ones, especially those who may be more vulnerable to illness. 

Key takeaways

Handwashing is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect people from illness. With just 20 seconds of effort, people can help prevent the spread of common germs that cause anything from colds and flu to foodborne illnesses and infections.

Making handwashing a habit can go a long way toward keeping families, schools and communities healthier.