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Proper Hand-washing Techniques

Diseases often spread via person-to-person contact, so proper hand-washing techniques are essential to preventing the spread of illness. In addition to the common cold, more serious diseases such as hepatitis A, meningitis, and infectious diarrhea can arise from poor hand hygiene, according to the Occupational Health & Safety Organization. Washing your hands, especially after using the restroom, is not only a simple way to protect yourself, but also a simple way to prevent the spread of diseases to others.

  1. Washing Your Hands

    • Always wash your hands using warm water. This will help kill the germs. If possible, use liquid hand soap rather than bar soap. According to the Occupational Health & Safety Organization, scum often build-ups around bar soap, which can foster the growth of microorganisms. After you have applied soap to your hands, rub them together away from the water for 20 seconds. Make sure to wash the front and back of your hands, in between fingers, around cuticles and under your fingernails. Next, start to rinse your hands under the running water. Remember to point your hands down in the sink to avoid the contaminated water running up along your elbows. Finally, turn off the water and dry your hands thoroughly with a paper towel or hand dryer.

    Frequency

    • Use common sense when determining how often you should wash your hands. In general, every time that you engage in an activity that contaminates your hands, you need to wash them. For example, after using the restroom, after handling animals, after coughing or sneezing, and before and after touching food are all scenarios when you need to wash your hands. In addition, if you interact with someone you know is sick, you should wash your hands more frequently to avoid contracting the disease. According to Stanford University's Occupational Health and Safety Program, if there is ever a time when hand-washing facilities are unavailable, you should use an antiseptic hand cleaner or antiseptic towelettes. Then, properly re-wash your hands as soon as possible.

    Things to Avoid

    • When washing your hands, there are certain things to avoid. First, if you are washing your hands in a public area, avoid touching the sink and the surrounding surfaces. Instead, turn on the water with a paper towel. Then, after you have finished washing your hands, turn off the water using a disposable towel and dry your hands with a disposable towel or hand dryer. Do not use a common hand towel or washing cloth, as they are likely to be contaminated. Within your own home, it is okay to use a towel or cleaning cloth, but only if you remember to clean it on a regular basis with chlorine bleach.

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