Frequently washing your hands, especially before eating and after going to the toilet, is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of illness or contamination from things you may have touched.
Basic soap and water is as good for cleaning your hands as any hand disinfectant or sanitiser.
It should take about 20 seconds to wash your hands adequately (see steps 1-9 below). Otherwise, the remaining bacteria will grow and can double in number in less than 20 minutes. If your technique is poor then your hands will not be clean.
The 10 steps of good hand-washing:
- Thoroughly wet hands
- Apply soap or cleanser
- Rub your hands palm to palm
- Rub your palms over back of each hand, interlacing your fingers
- Rub palm to palm with interlaced fingers
- Circle tips of fingers into the opposite palm
- Clean your thumbs
- Clean your wrists
- Rinse thoroughly
- Pat dry, preferably with disposable paper towels.
- Make sure you clean under rings too, that’s where many germs hide.
Practice other good health habits as well:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before you eat or prepare food; after using public touchscreens and surfaces in public spaces; after you cough or sneeze; and after using the toilet.
- Sneeze or cough into a sleeve/elbow, or cover your nose and mouth with a tissue. Throw the tissue in the bin.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.