How to Wash Your Hands Properly: An Easy Explainer

Welcome to proper hand washing! Let's learn the essential preparation steps.Start by wetting your hands thoroughly with clean running water.The water temperature can be either warm or cold - both are equally effective.You can use either liquid soap or bar soap - both work effectively.Apply enough soap to cover all surfaces of your hands. The key is creating a good lather.Soap molecules are essential for lifting dirt and germs from your skin. Let's see how this works at the molecular level.To conserve water, remember to turn off the tap while you're lathering your hands.Now that we've prepared properly, we're ready to learn the correct scrubbing technique.Begin by rubbing your palms together vigorously in a back and forth motion.Next, interlace your fingers and rub between them thoroughly. This helps remove germs hiding in these often-missed spaces.Now clean the back of each hand by making circular motions with your palm against the back of the opposite hand.Pay special attention to your fingertips and nails, where germs often hide. Use circular motions to clean these areas thoroughly.Remember, this entire scrubbing process should take at least twenty seconds. That's about the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.When rinsing your hands, keep them pointed downward to let water flow from wrists to fingertips.This prevents contaminated water from running up your arms, which can happen if your hands are pointed upward.After rinsing, you can dry your hands using either a clean paper towel or an air dryer.If using a paper towel, keep it to turn off the faucet afterward. This prevents recontamination of your clean hands.Remember, proper drying is crucial because germs spread more easily on wet hands compared to dry hands.