Everybody will tell you they already know how to wash their hands, but few of us are as thorough as needed to be effective on the tops of our hands, between our fingers and certainly I’ve never used a tune to make sure I scrubbed long enough nor have I always used the paper towel I dried with to turn off the water and get out of the room. Given that effective hand washing at least five times a day is your best protection again the coronavirus, it’s worth looking at the chart below and the recommendation.
Are you washing your hands WRONG? Guide for removing germs proves thousands of people are not practising good hygiene amid the coronavirus crisis
- A guide to washing your hands shows you should be rinsing them for 20 seconds
- It recommends humming Happy Birthday twice to get the timing right
- You should also wash your hands at frequent intervals to keep them clean
- The CDC recommends five simple steps for effective hand washing
- World Health Organisation suggests washing hands at least five times a day
By SOPHIE HASLETT FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
PUBLISHED: 21:55 EST, 2 March 2020 | UPDATED: 11:16 EST, 3 March 2020
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A government hand washing guide is serving as evidence that thousands of people aren’t practising good hygiene.
Washing your hands correctly is even more important now that the coronavirus has spread to almost 70 countries, and officials are scrambling to help people implement effective day-to-day actions that will stop the virus from spreading further.
Some scientists and experts suggest that avoiding the infection may be as simple sticking to good hygiene. But what is the correct way to wash your hands to ensure that they are thoroughly cleansed? 
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A guide to washing your hands is proof that thousands of people aren’t practising good hygiene – you should be rinsing your hands for at least 20 seconds (stock image)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a proper method for washing your hands that will help to stop you and those around you from getting sick. TOP ARTICLES2/5READ MORECaesar Salad grazing boards are latest foodcraze to set Instagram alight
What is the five-step process to perfect hand washing?
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the ‘Happy Birthday’ song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Source: CDC
The agency recommends you wash your hands at frequent intervals to stay healthy, and advises that everyone follow five steps to ensure they are washing their hands the right way.
‘The first step is to wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap,’ the CDC said.
‘Then, lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.’
However the third step is where many people might be falling down.
The CDC recommends you scrub your hands ‘for at least 20 seconds’ – which is the same amount of time it takes to hum Happy Birthday twice.
‘Rinse your hands well under clean, running water,’ the guide advises.
Finally, you should use a clean towel to dry your hands or air dry them. [and use that towel to turn off the water and turn the door knob to exit the room]
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The CDC’s hand washing guide follows WHO’s guidelines – which suggest people wash their hands at least five times a day with soap and water or hand sanitizer (pictured)How to wash your hands and effectively eliminate bacteriaLoaded: 0%Progress: 0%0:00PreviousPlaySkipMuteCurrent Time0:00/Duration Time1:17FullscreenNeed Text
If you are in a situation where you can’t wash your hands with soap and water, experts said hand sanitiser that contains 60 per cent alcohol will work in a pinch.
Sanitisers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations.
How does hand sanitiser work?
The alcohol in hand sanitiser disrupts the outer coating of many, but not all, germs; the CDC recommends using a hand sanitiser that contains at 60 per cent alcohol to ensure effectiveness.
However, these products are not very effective against bacterial spores or against viruses that don’t have an outer envelope. Sanitiser is effective against almost everything else.
Washing your hands is better than hand sanitiser, but this is the next best thing.
Source: Life Hacker
However, the CDC is quick to point out that hand sanitisers do not get rid of all types of germs, and they may not be as effective when your hands are dirty or greasy.
‘They might not remove harmful chemicals from hands like pesticides and heavy metals,’ the website reads.
The CDC’s hand washing guide follows the WHO’s guidelines – which include 11 detailed steps, including the exact technique you should use to make sure every part of your hands are clean.
Proper hand washing involves rubbing the palms together, rubbing the backs of the hands, interlocking fingers both backwards and forwards, scrubbing the thumbs, and then washing the fingertips.
You should also refrain from touching surfaces where others have been as much as possible.
This guide also suggests people wash their hands at least five times a day with soap and water or hand sanitiser.
When should you wash your hands?
- Before, during, and after preparing food
- Before eating food
- Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
- Before and after treating a cut or wound
- After using the toilet
- After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
- After handling pet food or pet treats
- After touching garbage
Source: CDC
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