When and How to Wash Your Hands

Germs on the hands

In our daily routine our hands are constantly picking up germs, which are tiny living organisms also known as microbes.² Germs that can make people unwell may get on our hands after we use the toilet, handle raw meat, or touch anything that has germs on it.¹

Our hands can carry millions of germs.³ Some of these germs can survive on our hands for a few minutes to a few hours, and on hard surfaces for a couple of hours to several months. And just ten seconds of contact can be enough to transfer these germs from our unwashed hands to other people or objects.³

Why is it important to wash your hands?

When we don’t wash our hands, the germs on our hands can be spread to objects that we touch and to other people.¹ By washing our hands regularly with soap and water, we remove germs from our hands. Washing hands regularly is the single most important hygiene step in fighting the spread of germs, and good hand washing practices help people and their communities stay healthier.¹

When to wash your hands

It’s easy to remember to wash your hands when they look dirty, but a good rule of thumb is to wash your hands before touching anything that needs to stay clean, and after touching anything that could leave germs on your hands.²

Make the following a part of your hand washing routine:^2,4,5

• Before, during, and after preparing food, especially between handling raw food and cooked or ready-to eat food
• Before eating
• Before and after caring for sick people at home or visiting people in hospital
• Before and after treating a cut, wound, or rash
• After using the toilet, changing nappies, or helping a child use the toilet
• After cleaning up blood, vomit, or other body fluids
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, or handling animal feed or waste
• After handling rubbish or chemicals, or working in the garden
• After smoking
• After touching frequently used surfaces in public places
• Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth

How to wash your hands

Step 1: Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold).^2,4

Step 2: Apply enough soap to cover all of your hands.^2,4

Step 3: Rub your hands together with the soap, lathering the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.^2,4

Step 4: Rinse your hands well under clean, running water, making sure to remove all the soap.^2,4

Step 5: Dry your hands using a paper towel, a clean hand towel or an air dryer if you are in a public toilet.^2,4

Why do we wash our hands with soap?

Soap is more effective than water alone to remove dirt and germs from your skin.^5,6 Rubbing your hands together to lather the soap causes friction that helps to lift the dirt and germs from your skin. Scrubbing all over your hands, including under the nails, for at least 20 seconds is recommended because it removes more germs than when you only wash for shorter lengths of time.⁶

Use hand sanitisers when you can’t use soap and water

While washing your hands with soap and water is recommended in most situations, if you are out and about and your hands have no visible dirt, then you can use a hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol such as Dettol Instant Hand Sanitiser to help stop the spread of germs.⁴

How to use hand sanitiser:

Step 1: Apply the hand sanitiser to the palm of one hand. Check the label for the correct amount to use.^2,4

Step 2: Rub your hands together, making sure that the hand sanitiser covers all surfaces of your hands and fingers.^2,4

Step 3: Keep rubbing hands together until they are dry. This will take around 20 seconds.^2,4

Keep in mind that although hand sanitisers can reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations, they do not get rid of all types of germs, particularly when hands are visibly dirty or greasy. They also might not remove harmful chemicals from hands such as pesticides and heavy metals.⁴

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References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About handwashing. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html (accessed 5 June 2024).
2. HealthDirect. Hand washing. Reviewed November 2018. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/hand-washing. Accessed June 2022
3. Kampf G, Kramer A. Epidemiologic background of hand hygiene and evaluation of the most important agents for scrubs and rubs. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2004;17(4):863-893.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When and how to wash your hands. Reviewed 14 March 2022.
5. Better Health Channel. Handwashing-why it’s important. Reviewed November 2018. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/handwashing-why-its-important. Accessed August 2020M.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Handwashing facts. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/data-research/facts-stats/index.html#:~:text=Handwashing%20with%20soap%20removes%20germs,mouth%20and%20make%20us%20sick. (Accessed 5 June 2024).