Good hand washing practices can help protect you and other people from the germs, chemicals, and dirt that can accumulate on your hands throughout the day.If your hands are not dirty, you may be able to use hand sanitizer.To get your hands as clean as possible, you need to practice the proper technique.
Step 1: Don't wash your hands if they are dirty.
There are certain situations in which washing your hands is necessary.Before and after caring for a wound are some situations where you should wash your hands.Before and after eating food.Before and after caring for someone who is sick.After using the bathroom.After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.Picking up garbage after taking out trash.After changing a diaper.After petting or handling an animal.Before putting or removing contact lens.
Step 2: It's important to be washing for at least 30 seconds.
You can wash even longer if you want.The rule of thumb is to wash for at least 30 seconds.
Step 3: Warm or cold water will get your hands wet.
To wet them, turn on your faucet and hold your hands under the water.If you want the soap to spread evenly, you need to get your palms and backs wet.To make sure the water is clean, wet your hands.There are germs in standing water.
Step 4: Apply soap to your hands.
Put a small amount of hand soap on the palm of one of your hands.Rub your hands together to lather the soap.Liquid hand soap, a soap bar, and powdered soap can be used.The soap can be used without being antibacterial.
Step 5: Place your fingers in between them.
Put one hand on top of the other.The fingers from your top hand should be in between the ones on your bottom hand.To scrub your fingers, move your hands up and down.If you want to repeat the process, interlace your fingers with your palms.For about 3–5 seconds each, wash your hands.
Step 6: Hold onto your thumb and move your other hand around.
Wrap your right hand around your left thumb.Put your right hand up and down to scrub your thumb.After a few seconds, switch hands to clean your thumb.As you work the soap deeper into your skin, hold onto your thumb as tight as you can.
Step 7: Rub your palms with your fingers.
Keep your left hand open.Use your fingers to scrub your left palm.If you want to clean your right hand the same way, you need to work the soap into your palm for 3–4 seconds.It helps the soap get underneath your nails.
Step 8: You should wash your hands thoroughly.
Put your hands under the running water after you wash them and allow the water to run over them.Remove all the soap from your hands.
Step 9: You can dry your hands with a towel.
Rub your hands with a clean towel.You are less likely to spread germs if you use a disposable towel.When your hands are completely dry, make sure you clean off as much water as you can.Rub your hands together under the warm air to get them completely dry if you need to use an air-drying unit.
Step 10: Turn off the faucet with a towel.
Hold onto the faucet with your towel and turn it off if the water doesn't automatically shut off.You don't want to re-contaminate your hands right away.If the towel is disposable, hang it to dry.If a towel isn't available, you can turn off the faucet with your elbow.It is recommended that you wash your hand towels at least every 2 or 3 days.
Step 11: Decide if it's appropriate to use hand sanitizer.
It is possible to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead of using soap and water to wash your hands.You might want to take a moment to evaluate the situation.Whether or not your hands are dirty should be considered.To clean your hands, use soap and water.You have something on your hands.Alcohol-based hand-sanitizer will not eliminate all of the germs on your hands and it won't remove pesticides and heavy metals.Choose soap and water in these situations.There is the availability of water.If you don't have running water, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer since it's better than leaving your hands dirty.If you have access to soap and water, wash your hands.
Step 12: Put a small amount of hand sanitizer on one hand.
It is more effective at killing harmfulbacteria if it has at least 60% alcohol.You can squirt a coin-sized amount of the sanitizer into your palm by pushing down on the pump.If you have alcohol cleaning wipes, you can use them.
Step 13: Rub your hands together.
You can wash your hands by rubbing them together for about 20 seconds.Rub your palms with your fingers to get underneath your nails.Put your hands in a circular motion until they feel dry.