Washing your hands might seem like a small thing, but it’s one of the best ways to stay healthy and keep others safe too. Every day, we touch things like doorknobs, phones, desks and even other people. Germs can live on these surfaces, and when we touch them, they can get on our hands. If we don’t wash our hands, those germs can make us sick.
Let’s learn why handwashing matters, how to do it the right way and what kinds of sicknesses it can help prevent.
Ewww, gross!
If you could see what’s living on dirty, unwashed hands, it might shock you – and maybe gross you out a little. Germs, lots of germs, can live on unwashed hands. They aren’t visible without a microscope, but they can do BIG harm. There are four main types of germs:
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Fungi
- Protozoa
Some germs are harmless, but others can cause illnesses like the flu, colds, diarrhea and even more serious diseases. Germs spread easily from person to person, especially when we don’t wash our hands.
Why is handwashing so important?
Handwashing helps remove germs from your hands before they can get into your body or spread to other people. You might touch your face without even thinking about it, then voila, you have germs on your face. Germs can enter your body easily through your eyes, nose and mouth and make you sick.
Here are some reasons why handwashing is important:
- It keeps you healthy.
- It protects others, especially babies, older adults and people with weak immune systems.
- It helps stop the spread of diseases in schools, homes and workplaces.
How many people actually wash their hands?
Even though handwashing is easy and helpful, not everyone does it regularly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Only about 58% of people wash their hands after using the bathroom.
- Around 25% of people wash their hands before eating.
- Most people don’t wash their hands long enough or use soap.
That means a lot of people are walking around with germs on their hands — and they and they probably don’t know it.
How to wash your hands the right way
Washing your hands the right way takes about 20 seconds. That’s about the same time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
Here are the steps:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold).
- Apply soap and lather well.
- Scrub all parts of your hands—the backs, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Keep scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands with a clean towel or air dry them.
If you don’t have soap and water, you can use hand sanitizer. Make sure it has at least 60% alcohol. Rub it all over your hands until they feel dry.
Always wash your hands:
- After using the bathroom
- Before eating
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching garbage
- After playing outside
- After touching animals or pets
- Before and after caring for someone who is sick
- Before and after treating a cut or wound
What can handwashing help prevent?
Washing your hands can help stop many illnesses. Here are some common ones:
- Colds and Flu: These are caused by viruses that spread easily. Handwashing helps stop the spread.
- COVID-19: Handwashing was one of the most important ways to stay safe during the pandemic.
- Diarrhea and Stomach Bugs: These can be caused by bacteria like E. coli or viruses like norovirus. Washing your hands before eating and after using the bathroom helps prevent them.
- Eye Infections: Touching your eyes with dirty hands can cause infections like pink eye.
- Skin Infections: Some bacteria can cause rashes or sores if they get into cuts or wounds.
Fun facts about handwashing
- The first handwashing guidelines were written over 150 years ago.
- Doctors and nurses wash their hands dozens of times a day.
- Handwashing can reduce diarrhea by up to 40%.
- It can reduce respiratory illnesses (like colds) by about 20%.
Tips to make handwashing a habit
Here are some easy ways to remember to wash your hands:
- Put up a sign in the bathroom or kitchen.
- Keep soap and towels nearby.
- Use fun-smelling soap or colorful soap to make it more enjoyable.
- Teach younger kids by singing songs while washing.
- Set a good example — kids learn by watching adults.
Handwashing is a simple but powerful way to stay healthy. It doesn’t take much time, and it doesn’t cost a lot. But it can make a big difference in your life and the lives of others. So next time you’re about to eat, come inside after being out, or use the bathroom — remember to wash your hands.
