Elementary Instructions for Hand Washing

Think washing your hands is overrated? According to the Center for Disease Control, properly washing your hands is the single most effective preventative measure for reducing the spread of bacteria and germs. This important hygienic practice protects you, and everybody else, from recently contaminated surfaces, airborne viruses and most pathogens. Always wash your hands before and after handling food, human or animal waste, including diapers, using the bathroom and touching animals.

Things You'll Need

• Antibacterial soap
• Paper towels

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Instructions

• 1

  Turn on hot running water and wet your hands. Hot water emulsifies soap more easily than cold water, resulting in more suds and better cleaning.

• 2

  Squirt a dime-sized amount of soap into your hands. Scrub your hands together vigorously for 20 seconds, approximately the amount of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. Scrub your fingers and palms -- but also in between your fingers -- around and under your fingernails.

• 3

  Rinse the soap off completely, by running your hands under the hot running water. Continue rinsing until the soap is completely gone.

• 4

  Dry your hands using a clean paper towel or commercial air dryer. Do not wipe wet hands on clothing. This can recontaminate your skin.