How to wash your hands: technique that cuts infection

In short

• Washing hands with soap and clean, running water helps prevent respiratory and diarrheal infections, according to the CDC.
• Scrub for at least 20 seconds, covering the backs of the hands, between the fingers and under the nails.
• Soap and water is the best choice in most situations. Use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when soap and water are not available.
• Plain soap works as well as antibacterial soap for everyday use.
• Dry your hands thoroughly, and moisturize if frequent washing leaves your skin dry.

Why it works

The CDC explains that germs spread when you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, prepare or eat food with them, touch contaminated surfaces, or cough or sneeze into your hands and then touch others or shared objects. Washing with soap and clean, running water removes germs and chemicals from your skin, and it helps prevent respiratory and diarrheal infections.

The CDC adds that you need to scrub for 20 seconds to remove harmful germs and chemicals, and that shorter washing removes fewer of them.

Technique: the steps and 20 seconds

1. Wet.Wet your hands with clean, running water, and apply enough soap to cover them. The CDC says you can turn off the tap while you lather.
2. Lather.Rub your hands together, including the backs, between the fingers and under the nails. The NHS adds rubbing each thumb and your fingertips against the opposite palm.
3. Scrub.Scrub for at least 20 seconds, about the time it takes to hum the Happy Birthday song twice.
4. Rinse.Rinse well under clean, running water.
5. Dry.Dry with a clean towel or an air dryer. The NHS suggests drying thoroughly with a disposable towel, and using that towel to turn off the tap.

The NHS also suggests taking off rings and bracelets if possible before you wash.

The key moments

The CDC and the NHS list these times as the ones that matter most:

• Before, during and after preparing food, and before and after eating.
• After using the toilet, and after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet.
• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• Before and after caring for a sick person, and before and after treating a cut or wound.
• After touching animals, animal feed or waste, pet food, or garbage.
• The NHS adds when visiting someone in the hospital or another healthcare setting.

Soap or sanitizer?

The CDC says soap and water is the best way to remove all types of germs and chemicals. Hand sanitizer kills germs but does not remove them, and it cannot kill all types of germs or remove harmful chemicals such as pesticides and heavy metals. It also works only when hands are not visibly dirty or greasy.

If soap and water are not immediately available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, and check the label. The CDC notes that disinfecting wipes should not be used on skin, because they may cause irritation.

Do you need antibacterial soap?

No. The FDA says there is not enough evidence that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps prevent illness better than plain soap and water, and that they may give people a false sense of security. A 2016 FDA rule removed 19 active ingredients, including triclosan and triclocarban, from consumer antiseptic wash products.

The CDC adds that studies found no added health benefit from antibacterial soap outside healthcare settings and that some studies link it to antibiotic resistance. Plain soap and water is simple, and it works.

Does water temperature matter?

The CDC says warm and cold water remove the same number of germs from your hands, so use whichever you prefer. Water usually does not kill germs, since it would have to be hot enough to scald your hands to do so. Hot water adds nothing and can dry your skin more.

Looking after your hands

Frequent washing can leave skin dry or cracked. The CDC's guidance for people who clean their hands often suggests the following:

• Use warm or cold water, not hot, and take off rings before washing.
• Keep hands moisturized with thick creams or ointments such as plain petrolatum, and look for protective ingredients such as dimethicone or glycerin.
• Minimize time with wet hands, and wear gloves for dishwashing, cleaning products and gardening.
• Choose a fragrance-free soap or sanitizer with few ingredients if your skin is sensitive.

The CDC calls the idea that sanitizer dries skin more than soap and water a widespread myth not supported by science, and says that burning from sanitizer usually means the skin is already cracked.

When to see a doctor

See your provider or a dermatologist if hand dermatitis, with redness, itching, burning, blisters or crusts, affects daily life or does not improve, as the CDC advises.

Hand hygiene reduces risk but does not replace medical care for illness. Call 911 for severe symptoms such as trouble breathing, confusion, or signs of severe dehydration after vomiting or diarrhea.

Questions to bring:

• Is my skin problem eczema or contact dermatitis?
• Which moisturizer and soap are suitable for my skin?
• How can I protect my hands at work if I wash them often?

Questions and answers

Sources

1. CDC — About hand hygiene
2. CDC — Hand hygiene frequently asked questions
3. NHS — The best way to wash your hands
4. FDA — Skip antibacterial soap, use plain soap and water
5. CDC — Keeping your hands clean and healthy

Sources checked on 29 October 2026.