In better, less complicated times we’ve all done the “rinse and shake” instead of actually washing our hands. Done in six seconds flat… no soap required.
But now? Proper handwashing can help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. All viral illnesses actually. It’s one of the most important things you can do. According to the CDC, “Hand hygiene is the first line of defense for the prevention of illnesses and spread of infection to others.”
Doing this correctly is important, so let’s go over some things.
Step 1 Wet your hands
First, wet your hands under clean running water. Warm or cool water is fine. Hot water isn’t any more effective at killing germs and it can chap your hands.
Step 2 Lather up
Apply a generous amount of soap to both sides of your hands. Antibacterial soap isn’t necessary. Any soap will do. Wash for at least 20 seconds (30 is even better.) Do not let the water run over your hands as you’re lathering up. It makes the whole thing less effective. You can sing “Happy Birthday” twice, or look online for other song suggestions. There’s even a hashtag for that! #handwashanthems
As you’re washing, keep your hands lower than your elbows in order to prevent the water from running down your forearms. Make sure to clean under jewelry and don’t forget your fingernails. Pay attention to your fingertips, too because if you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth before you properly wash your hands, well… that’s how viruses enter your body.
Make sure you wash all parts of your hands. Wrists, the backs of your hands, between fingers, and under fingernails.
Step 3 Rinse
Put your hands under the running water, gently rubbing until the soap is gone.
Step 4 Dry
The best thing you can do is use a paper towel to dry your hands. If you blot instead of rubbing your hands won’t chap as easily. And, it’s more sanitary. Hand dryers in public places work too. Avoid touching the surface of the sink, flushing the toilet or touching door handles, faucets or any other surface with your clean hands. Use a paper towel instead.
When to wash and how often:
- Every time you return home after venturing out in the real world.
- After using the bathroom.
- Before, during, and after cooking
- Before you eat
- After caring for a sick person
- After you cough, sneeze or blow your nose
- Before and after treatment of a wound
- After changing a diaper
- After touching an animal, its food, or its waste.
- After putting on your shoes
- After touching garbage
- After touching any public computer, communal surfaces like tables and counters, handling money, or someone else’s phone
What about hand sanitizer? Can’t I just use that?
Hand sanitizer should be used when soap and water aren’t available. If you have access to running water and soap, it’s always a better choice. Hand sanitizers, to be effective against viruses, should contain a minimum of 60% alcohol. Put a generous amount on your hands and, like washing with soap, try to cover all the surfaces, paying close attention to your fingertips. Households with young children should be especially careful. Accidental ingestion of hand sanitizers can lead to alcohol poisoning.
So, hand hygiene is vitally important. If you touch an infected person or a contaminated surface you can then spread the virus to other surfaces or become infected yourself if you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. This is called contact transmission, and it’s one of the ways that Covid-19 and other viruses can spread among the population.