Key Facts:
- Washing hands prevents illnesses and spread of infections to others.
- People often get sick when they make contact with germs from feces on their hands.
- About 1.8 million children under the age of 5 die each year from diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, the top two killers of young children around the world. Handwashing with soap could protect about 1 out of every 3 young children who get sick with diarrhea, and almost 1 out of 5 young children with respiratory infections like pneumonia.
- Handwashing helps battle the rise in antibiotic resistance.
- Your hands should be as dry as possible after handwashing. Germs can be transferred more easily to and from wet hands.
Do I really need to wash my hands for 20 seconds?
Scientific studies show that you need to scrub for 20 seconds to remove harmful germs and chemicals from your hands. If you wash for a shorter time, you will not remove as many germs. Make sure to scrub all areas of your hands, including your palms, backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your fingernails.
How does handwashing with soap and water remove germs and chemicals?
Soap and water, worked into a lather, trap and remove germs and chemicals from hands. Wetting your hands with clean water before applying soap helps you get a better lather than applying soap to dry hands. A good lather forms pockets called micelles that trap and remove germs, harmful chemicals, and dirt from your hands. When you rinse your hands, you wash the germs and chemicals down the drain.
Should I use a paper towel to turn off the faucet after washing my hands?
The CDC recommends turning off the faucet after wetting your hands to reduce water use. Then, turn it on again after you have washed them for 20 seconds, to rinse off the soap. If you are concerned about getting germs on your hands after you wash them, you can use a paper towel, your elbow, or another hands-free way to turn off the faucet.
Will touching bathroom door handles make my hands dirty again after I wash them?
Scientists don't know if you would get a significant number of germs on your hands from touching a bathroom door handle. That's because it has not been specifically studied. If you're concerned about getting germs on your hands after you wash them, you can use a paper towel, your elbow, shirt, or another hands-free way to open the door.
Should I dry my hands using a paper towel or an air dryer?
There is currently not enough scientific evidence to determine if using a clean towel or an air hand dryer to dry your hands is more effective at reducing germs on your hands. Both are effective ways to dry your hands. Germs spread more easily when hands are wet, so make sure to dry your hands completely, whatever method you use.
Should I reuse a towel to dry my hands at home?
CDC recommends using a clean towel if you are using a towel to dry your hands. Reusable towels are a practical option at home. They should be changed when visibly dirty and before they develop mildew from remaining damp.
Is antibacterial soap better than plain soap?
Use plain soap and water to wash your hands. Studies have not found any added health benefit from using antibacterial soap, other than for professionals in healthcare settings.
Is bar soap better than liquid soap?
Both bar and liquid soap work well to remove germs.
Is it better to use warm water or cold water?
Use your preferred water temperature to wash your hands. Warm and cold water remove the same number of germs from your hands. Water itself does not usually kill germs; to kill germs, water would need to be hot enough to scald your hands.
Which is better, hand sanitizer or handwashing?
Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to remove all types of germs and chemicals. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers work by killing germs on your hands, while washing your hands with soap and water removes germs from your hands. Handwashing will remove all types of germs from your hands, but hand sanitizers are not able to kill all types of germs or remove harmful chemicals like pesticides and heavy metals.
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