How to Properly Wash Your Hands

Despite the invention of soap, there are still many people who can’t properly wash their hands. This includes health professionals, according to research from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and other places. The issue is exacerbated by a lack of access to running water in developing countries. We hope this article will help you learn how to properly clean your hands using natural methods so that you can stay healthy!

The “7 steps of washing hands” is a guide on how to properly wash your hands. There are 7 steps in the guide that will help you wash your hands with the correct technique, and avoid any potential health problems.

At the McKay home, January has been the month of the never-ending cold. The first half of the family became ill, then the other, and then the first half once again. It was a near-pandemic situation here. Productivity, morale, and my profits — my pitiful profits! — have all taken a hit.

It’s made me consider how I can better deal with becoming ill in the future, as well as how to avoid getting sick in the first place. When it comes to the latter, one of the most crucial weapons in your cold and flu-fighting armory is good and frequent hand-washing.

I’ll confess that I’ve been a sloppy and short washer in the past. And I’m not alone; according to research, just 5% of individuals properly wash their hands.

So we asked Bryan Canterbury, an ER doctor at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, MA, for his advice on how to wash thoroughly like a real doctor. Above is a link to his doctor-approved guide.

The CDC recommends that you wash your hands as follows:

Food preparation: before, during, and after
Prior to consuming food
Before and after caring for a sick person
Before and after a cut or wound is treated
After using the restroom,
After changing a kid’s diapers or cleaning up a messed-up youngster,
When you’ve blown your nose, coughed, or sneezed,
After coming into contact with an animal, animal feed, or animal waste, wash your hands thoroughly.
After handling pet food or treats, wash your hands thoroughly.
After coming into contact with rubbish

Antibacterial soap isn’t any more efficient than conventional soap at killing germs, and it may even contribute to the development of resistant bacteria (i.e., the “super bug”). Because of the antibacterial label, individuals are less likely to wash their hands properly, assuming that the soap would take care of the germs on its own, which isn’t the case.

In a pinch, hand sanitizer will suffice; take a large glob, make sure it’s at least 60% alcohol, and rub it all over your hands. When you have genuine filth on your hands, sanitizer isn’t a smart option, and it doesn’t destroy all germs, but it’s almost as effective as hand washing. It won’t turn you into a super bug, though; hand sanitizer breaks down germs in a different manner than antibacterial soap’s antimicrobials. Dr. Canterbury suggests using hand sanitizer in the following way:

“Hand sanitizer is used in and out of each patient room at the hospital.” But we’re told to wash our hands with soap and water after using the restroom, before and after meals, and when they’re visibly dirty — and I think that’s a great minimum standard to follow throughout the day, no matter where you work or live; more if possible to avoid catching a cold, flu, pneumonia, or worse.”

That’s how a doctor washes (or sanitizes) their hands. Keep your noses and hands clean till next time.

Antibacterial soap provides no additional benefit and adds to superbugs. It will suffice to use regular soap.
With warm water and soap, wash for 30 seconds. That’s two “Happy Birthdays” in a row.
A. fingertips, B. between fingers (webbing), and C. beneath the nails are all regions that are often overlooked.
Drying is a matter of personal choice, but using a hand drier is better for both hygiene and the environment.
To exit, use a paper towel or a sleeve to open the door. But don’t worry too much; you’ll undoubtedly come into contact with something filthy at some point.
Hand sanitizer can suffice in a pinch. It’s better than nothing, and it’s been proved to reduce infection rates.

Do you like the illustrations in this guide? Then our book The Illustrated Art of Manliness is for you! Get a copy from Amazon.

Ted Slampyak created the illustration.

The “how often should you wash your hands” is a question that has been asked for years. The answer to this question depends on the person and what they do. Some people’s work requires them to wash their hands more than others, while some people don’t need to wash their hands at all.