The act of washing one’s hands may appear to be quite elementary, yet for something that we do on a regular basis, a surprising number of people don’t put in the effort to do it correctly. Hand washing is one of the most efficient strategies to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as the common cold, the flu, and diseases like COVID-19 or norovirus. Examples of these infectious diseases include the common cold and the flu. The following are the actions that should be taken when washing your hands properly:
Utilize Some Hot Water
The utilization of warm water is essential, as this facilitates a more efficient dissolution of many forms of bacteria and viruses. Since extremes of temperature, such as cold or hot water, can be irritating to the skin, the optimal temperature range for bathing is between 60 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm water is more comfortable, and as a result, you will be more likely to wash fully if you use it.
Douse Your Hands with Water
To activate the infectious organisms that are already on your hands and to make soap more effective, you should run your hands under running water to get them nice and wet. Be sure to soak your wrists, fingertips, and in between your fingers as well, as these are common hiding places for bacteria.
Use some soap.
Both bar soap and liquid soap are effective at removing dirt and germs as long as they contain surfactants that work to dissolve the dirt and germs. Make sure you use a sufficient amount of soap to develop up a good lather that completely covers your hands and wrists. At the very least, twenty seconds’ worth of scrubbing is required for this to effectively penetrate and remove microorganisms. There is no definitive evidence that antibacterial soaps are superior to regular soap and water in terms of their ability to clean.
Scrub each and every surface.
It is essential to scrub all of the hand surfaces very thoroughly. Make certain to clean:
To each other’s palms
between and around the whole of each finger
the palms of one’s hands
Pointes de doigts
Below the cuticle of the hand
Wrists and Thumbs
It is important to spend at least twenty seconds thoroughly cleaning every nook and cranny, as this is where germs tend to lurk. A smart way to determine when it’s time to brush your teeth is to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
Perform a Thorough Hand Washing
To remove any trace of soap residue from your hands, thoroughly rinse them under running water. Instead of being entirely rinsed down the drain, where bacteria have little chance of recontaminating, any leftover soap could leave behind a film that the germs can cling to again.
Finishing Drying Your Hands
It is critical to completely dry off after washing one’s hands because wet hands transmit about one hundred times more germs than dry hands. Using paper towels is ideal if they are available; however, an air hand dryer can also be effective. In public facilities, paper towels are recommended over cloth towels because paper towels are less likely to contain bacteria.
After you have dried yourself, you should use a paper towel to unlock any bathroom doors and switch off any taps. This will prevent you from contacting potentially infected surfaces with your clean hands. Sanitizer for the hands can be used as an additional precaution if it is readily available, but only after first washing one’s hands thoroughly with soap and water. When used appropriately, sanitizers that contain alcohol are effective against the vast majority of germs and viruses.
How Often and When Should You Wash?
Create a routine out of washing your hands:
Before, during, and after the preparation of the food
Before beginning to eat
After finishing my business in the restroom
After clearing your throat, blowing your nose, or sneezing and coughing,
After making contact with objects found in public, such as doors, money, or mobile phones
Following interaction with other people, such as handshakes and embraces
In the event that the hands appear or feel unclean
At a minimum, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises washing one’s hands.
Before, while, and after the food is being prepared
Before starting to consume food
Before and after providing medical care to a sick person
Prior to and following the treatment of a cut or wound
After having used the restroom
After attending to the children’s needs, such as changing diapers or cleaning up,
After touching an animal or animal feces After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing After coming into contact with an animal
After having contact with trash
If there is an ill person in your home, you should wash your hands more regularly. In order to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, practicing proper hand hygiene is of the utmost importance. Hand hygiene and the use of correct technique go a long way toward ensuring the health and safety of individuals as well as the community.
