Handwashing

Handwashing is one of the best ways to stay healthy. Your hands touch many things all day long. Germs can stick to your fingers and get inside your body. Washing with soap and water gets rid of those germs. It only takes about 20 seconds to do.

How to Wash Hands

First, wet your hands with clean water. Put soap on your hands and rub them together. Scrub the front, back, between your fingers, and under your nails. Keep scrubbing for about 20 seconds, or about as long as singing Happy Birthday twice. Rinse with water and dry with a clean towel.

A bright poster that teaches kids when to wash their hands.
A bright poster that teaches kids when to wash their hands. (SusanA Secretariat / Wikimedia Commons)

When to Wash

Wash your hands before eating and after using the bathroom. Wash them after playing outside or touching a pet. Always wash after you sneeze, cough, or blow your nose. Wash them when you get home from school. Washing often helps you and your family stay healthy.

Fun Facts

  • A doctor named Ignaz Semmelweis was one of the first to show that handwashing saves lives.
  • Handwashing can stop many kinds of sickness from spreading.
  • Using plain soap and water works as well as special soaps.

Did You Know?

Global Handwashing Day is celebrated every year on October 15 to remind people how important clean hands are.