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Handwashing: The Practical Know-How You Might Have Forgotten

by — Last updated: 2021-12-08 in Healthy Living

Table of Contents

Washing your hands is such a basic, everyday activity that you probably don't spend too much time thinking about it. Enter Global Handwashing Day — a day on which everyone should re-examine their habits.

So, when should you wash your hands?

You know about the most important handwashing moments — before dinner and after the toilet. Do you also consistently wash your hands before, during and after preparing food? Handwashing is especially important before and after preparing salads, which will not have the benefit the cooking process that would normally get rid of most bacteria. 

You should also wash your hands before and after caring for a sick person, including your children, elderly parents and spouse.

 

Read More: Is Your Bathroom Making You Sick?

Sounds logical, doesn't it? But I bet not too many people do it.

Washing your hands after going to the bathroom speaks for itself. Don't forget to do the same after changing your (or another person's) baby's diaper, or helping an older child use the toilet. The same goes for blowing your nose or sneezing, or helping your child with these things. 

Do you use public transport, fast-food facilities, playgrounds, or hold on to shopping carts? Wash your hands! And never forget to wash your hands with soap and water after handling garbage or throwing it away. 

Contact-lens wearers should always wash their hands thoroughly before inserting their lenses or taking them out. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also encourages you to wash your hands after touching pets.

Are you already a consistent handwasher? Congratulations!

If you have been a bit neglectful and could improve your handwashing frequency, remember that new habits take 21 days to form into solid practice.

You can do it! Put a (laminated) notice up near the sink so you remember.

Global Handwashing Day is also the ideal time to start a clean-hands campaign among your own kids, at your kids' school, and even at your workplace. Right, adults don't like to be reminded of something they really do know all about — but they might still need their memories jogged. 

How should you wash your hands?

  • Use clean, running water to wet your hands. Use soap to make a real lather all over your hands (just holding the soap briefly won't do!), and don't forget to pay attention to your nails and the space between your fingers.
  • To wash your hands properly, rub them together for a minimum of 20 seconds. 
  • Once you're done, wash all the soap off under running water and dry your hands with a clean towel. Replace your bathroom towels frequently. If they are anywhere near the toilet, fecal bacteria will build up there. 

What should you do if you don't have clean water available? Use the water you do have, with soap. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are a good alternative too. As with soap, they need to cover your entire hand-surface, including the top and the space between the fingers.