You might be wondering why it’s such a big deal, but the truth is that hand Washing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness. Not only does it keep germs from affecting you, but it stops any bacteria from getting passed to others and causing illnesses ranging from the common cold to the far more serious, Escherichia coli and salmonella. However, even people who understand the importance of washing their hands might not use a technique that’s actually effective. Hand washing might seem as simple as rubbing your hands together under the stream of a faucet, but there are several elements to consider, including the how long you should spend washing, how often you should do it, what temperature water you should use and what to do once you’re finished. Here are some tips on how to do it right.
- Use cold or lukewarm water
You don’t need to use hot water to wash your hands! Researchers at Vanderbilt University found washing with hot water killed no more germs than washing with cold. If the water were hot enough to kill bacteria, it would be too hot to tolerate. Plus, they argue, hot water can irritate the protective layer of skin, making it less resistant to bacteria. Washing with hot water is bad for the environment. The Vanderbilt researchers estimate that washing our hands with hot water generates 6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. each year — more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire country of El Salvador and about the same as 1.2 million passenger vehicles.
- Make the process fun
Make sure you scrub thoroughly, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails, for at least 20 seconds, according to the CDC. To encourage kids to wash for a full 20 seconds, teach them to sing the happy birthday song twice while washing.
- Plain old soap will do the trick
While Soap is necessary, anti-bacterial soap is not. Studies show it is no more effective than regular hand soap, and some researchers are concerned that it will lead to the development of drug-resistant bacteria, making it harder to fight germs in the future.
- Hand sanitizers work in a pinch
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, gels or wipes, are a good option if you don’t have access to clean water or soap. But they don’t kill all germs and are less effective if your hands are visibly dirty or greasy. The CDC recommends a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol to maximize germ-killing power.
- Wash often, wash well
We all know to wash our hands after we use the toilet and before we eat or prepare food. Here are some other times your hands need a washing:
- Before and after caring for someone who is sick or visiting someone in the hospital
- Before and after treating a cut or wound
- After changing diapers or helping a child use the toilet
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching an animal, its food or its waste
- After touching garbage
When you wash your hands, you should have a good idea about safe water temperatures and proper washing techniques. You should also know the best way to dry your hands to ensure you don’t re-contaminate yourself after washing. But up next, you’ll find out the best ways to prepare for hand washing.
