Wash your hands at key moments
Soap and water help stop germs spreading from hands to your mouth, eyes and other people.
The number, drawn
Handwashing can prevent about 30% of diarrhea related sicknesses and about 20% of respiratory infections
Why it matters
Hands transfer germs after toilet use, contact with illness and handling contaminated surfaces. CDC estimates handwashing can prevent about 30% of diarrheal illnesses. The benefit comes from washing at useful times and covering the whole hand, rather than repeatedly disinfecting everything around you.
How to do it
- Wash before preparing or eating food, after the toilet and after changing nappies.
- Also wash after blowing your nose and when caring for someone with vomiting or diarrhea.
- Use soap and running water, scrub all hand surfaces for at least 20 seconds, then rinse and dry.
- If soap and water are unavailable, use sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol; choose soap and water when hands are visibly dirty.
Do it
Pick the time you have. Anything beats nothing.
Start with the time you have
1 minute
Wash your hands now the full way: wet, soap, scrub backs, between fingers and under nails for 20 seconds, rinse and dry.
5 minutes
Check that the sinks where you cook and use the toilet have soap and a clean way to dry hands, and keep sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol for when you're out.
15 minutes
If you care for children, teach them the full wash: sing Happy Birthday twice while scrubbing backs, fingers and nails, then rinse and dry.
A plan
Make the useful washes easy
- Make soap and a clean way to dry hands available where you wash.
- Link washing to meals, toilet use, nappies and caring for someone with vomiting or diarrhea.
- When soap and water are unavailable, use sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol; choose soap and water for visible dirt.
In real life
- After using the toilet, wash with soap, scrub for at least 20 seconds, rinse and dry.
- Before making lunch, clean the backs of your hands, between fingers and under nails as well as your palms.
Watch out for
- Common mistakeA quick rinse misses the cleaning step, so use soap and scrub all surfaces for at least 20 seconds.
- Common mistakeSanitizer is not the best choice for visibly dirty hands, so use soap and running water.
Trusted guides
Check usSources
- Evidence grade
- A Meta-analyses of randomised trials, or a major guideline consensus.
- Basis
- CDC synthesis of handwashing studies and practical prevention guidance
- The number
- Handwashing can prevent about 30% of diarrhea related sicknesses and about 20% of respiratory infections (CDC, 2024)
- Tier 1 guidelineHandwashing FactsCDC, 2024
- Tier 1 guidelineAbout HandwashingCDC, 2024
General health information, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. Personalization changes the order of suggestions; it does not assess your medical risks. Follow the cautions and consult a qualified clinician when needed.