You may think you are washing your hands properly, but a survey has it that at least 5% of the population are doing it wrongly. Are you one of them? Do read on to check!
1. How to Wash Your Hands Properly
Washing your hands is a simple process that yields great health benefits. The key is being sure to wash and dry your hands properly to remove dirt, bacteria, and other germs. There are five simple steps to washing your hands. The steps are:
- Use running water to wet your hands while rubbing them with soap.
- Rub your hands together, being sure to lather the back of the hands and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse your hands under running water to remove the soap, dirt, and germs.
- Dry your hands with a clean towel or hand dryer.
2. Don’t Forget to Dry Your Hands
Drying your hands is a step that should not be ignored in the cleaning process. Properly drying your hands does not include wiping your hands on your clothes to dry them. Drying your hands with a towel or using a hand dryer without rubbing your hands together are most effective at keeping bacteria counts low.
Rubbing your hands together while drying them under a hand dryer offsets the benefits of hand washing by bringing bacteria within the skin to the surface. These bacteria, along with any that were not removed by washing, can then be transferred to other surfaces.
3.What About Hand Sanitisers?
The best option for removing dirt and germs from your hands is soap and water. However, some hand sanitisers can serve as an alternative when soap and water are not available. Hand sanitizers should not be used as a replacement for soap and water because they are not as effective at removing dirt or food and oils that may get on the hands after eating.
Hand sanitisers work by coming into direct contact with bacteria and other germs. The alcohol in the sanitiser breaks down the bacterial cell membrane and destroys the germs. When using a hand sanitizer, be sure that it is alcohol-based and contains at least 60% alcohol. Use a paper towel or cloth to remove any dirt or food on your hands.
Apply the hand sanitiser as directed on the instructions. Rub the sanitiser all over your hands and between your fingers until your hands are dry.
Source: about.com
