Important Facts About Handwashing

Handwashing is one of the easiest and most practical ways to keep diseases from spreading to others, according to the Center for Disease Control. You need a combination of warm, clean, running water and soap. Use available water and an alcohol-based solution that contains no less than 60 percent alcohol if one of these components is not available.

Duration

• The Center for Disease Control recommends that you wash your hands with soap and warm, running water for at least 20 seconds. During this time, rub the knuckles, the area between your fingers and wrists thoroughly. You can time yourself by humming the "Happy Birthday" song from the beginning to the end twice while you wash.

When You Should Wash

• Always wash your hands before and after handling food or eating food, after you use the bathroom, before and after tending someone who is sick, after you sneeze or blow your nose, after handling garbage and animal wastes and before and after treating a cut or wound, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Soap Type

• A typical bar of soap or liquid soap works as a degreasing agent when you combine it with water. Since most harmful bacteria accumulates in the oily regions on your skin, soap helps remove breeding grounds for bacteria. According to chemistry professor Nivaldo Tro of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, soap usually contains lye, which is a chemical that kills most bacteria.

  Antimicrobial soap contains triclosan, an antiseptic agent that lower the number of bacteria, according to Colorado State University. You need to wash and scrub between 30 to 45 seconds for the chemical to work. However, some people believe that excessive use of antimicrobial soap can cause the bacterial to become resistant to triclosan. Although this theory is possible, no current research evidence proves this belief.

Hand Sanitizers

• Hand sanitizers contain between 60 and 95 percent alcohol, and they are the most effective at killing bacteria, according to Colorado State University. They contain ethanol, isopropanol, or a mixture of both. When using hand sanitizers, use a dime-size drop and rub your hands thoroughly for least 30 seconds.

  You should not substitute hand sanitizers with handwashing with soap and water. Dirt, food and other oily substances lessen the effectiveness of hand sanitizers, so it works best if you wash your hands with soap and warm water before using hand sanitizers. A food service setting requires you follow this procedure before and after handling food. However, in a clinical or hospital setting, healthcare workers may use hand sanitizers only when working between patients, since it helps them save time. However, healthcare workers must wash their hands with soap and water if they have handled food or human wastes.