Why Wash Your Hands?

Washing your hands is one of the easiest ways to stay healthy. Our hands touch surfaces all day—door handles, phones, keyboards—picking up germs all along the way. A thorough hand wash with hot water and soap will keep germs at bay and stop the spread to others. It’s one of the easiest ways to keep you and your loved ones from getting sick. Especially essential for those with young kids or elderly family members at home.

How to Wash

Wash your hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing all parts—palms, backs, between fingers, and under nails—then rinse and dry thoroughly.

Why We Wash

• Removes germs effectively: Soap breaks down the oily layer on your skin where germs stick, allowing water to wash them away.

• Reduces infections: Hand washing has been shown to reduce diarrheal diseases by up to 40% and respiratory infections by up to 20%.

• Prevents illness: One gram of human feces contains up to 1 trillion germs, including dangerous bacteria like E. coli and viruses like norovirus that cause illness.

• Saves money: Fewer doctor visits, fewer dollars spent on health care, and even fewer missed days of school or work are all reasons to wash.

• Saves lives globally: The World Health Organization states that hand washing could prevent millions of deaths worldwide each year.

Other Good Outcomes

• Protects others: Kids, older adults, and those with weak immune systems benefit from healthy people keeping their hands clean.

• Supports healthy skin: Soap and water remove dirt and oils that can clog pores and cause skin irritation.

• Keeps food safe: Washing up before cooking prevents harmful bacteria from spreading further through your meals.