The Purpose of Handwashing

Handwashing is an act that you are taught, often by parents, at a very early age. In addition to maintaining good personal hygiene, it also has great importance when it comes to health.

For Appearance

• When hands are dirty, they are not only unattractive, but they also can soil and even ruin items that are clean. Handwashing removes any visible dirt and other debris from your skin to give you the outward appearance of cleanliness.

To Clean the Skin

• In addition to visibly removing grime from your hands, fingers and arms, handwashing is also crucial to remove microorganisms that are not plainly visible. In this sense, handwashing serves to protect you from potentially harmful bacteria that can make you sick.

To Prevent the Spread of Germs

• Another purpose of handwashing is to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria to others. By washing your hands, you are not only protecting yourself, but your family, friends and co-workers. In hospitals, surgeons must properly and thoroughly wash their hands prior to operating to prevent contaminating wounds from microorganisms while performing the procedure.