How It Works: Washing Hands with Soap and Water

Components to washing with soap and water, the proper technique, and how washing with soap and water works.

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How It Works: Washing Hands with Soap and Water (PDF)

Components:

• Three components:
  1. Soap
  2. Warm water
  3. Friction
     

Technique:

• Six steps:
  1. Wet hands with warm, running water.
  2. Add soap.
  3. Rub hands vigorously for 20 seconds.
     Wash all surfaces including:
     • Backs of hands
     • Wrists
     • Between fingers
     • Tips of fingers
     • Thumbs under fingernails—nailbrush is best
  4. Rinse.
     • Keep fingers pointing down
  5. Dry vigorously with paper or clean cloth towel.
  6. Turn off faucet with towel and open door with towel.

How it works:

• The soap suspends the dirt and soils.
• The friction motion helps pull dirt and greasy or oily soils free from the skin.
• Warm running water washes away suspended dirt and soils that trap germs.
• Final friction of wiping hands removes more germs.