How to Wash Your Hands Properly (and Which Soap to Use)

Handwashing is one of the simplest ways to stay healthy, and the soap you use matters far less than how you wash.

The five steps

1. Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and turn off the tap.
2. Lather with soap, covering the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
3. Scrub for at least 20 seconds. Humming "Happy Birthday" twice is a handy timer.
4. Rinse well under clean running water.
5. Dry with a clean towel or let your hands air dry.

When to wash

• Before, during and after preparing food.
• Before eating.
• After using the toilet or changing diapers.
• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• After touching animals, pet food or garbage.
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick or treating a cut.

Does the type of soap matter?

Not much. Plain soap works by lifting germs and grime off your skin so water can rinse them away. The FDA says consumer antibacterial soaps have not been shown to work better than plain soap and water. Bar soap, liquid soap and natural soap all do the job.

Worried about germs on a shared bar? See bar soap vs liquid hand soap.

Protecting dry hands

Frequent washing can dry your skin. Moisturize after washing, and choose a gentle, fragrance-free soap if your hands get irritated.

Common handwashing mistakes

1. Rushing. Most people wash for well under 20 seconds. Count it or hum a song.
2. Missing spots. Thumbs, fingertips, the backs of hands and under the nails are the most often missed.
3. Skipping drying. Damp hands pick up and spread germs more easily. Dry well with a clean towel.
4. Re-contaminating. In public restrooms, consider using a paper towel to turn off the tap and open the door.
5. Using too much hot water. It dries skin without cleaning better.

Handwashing for kids

Kids learn best with a routine. Make it fun: a short song, a step stool so they can reach the sink, and a soap they like the smell of. For young children, a mild, unscented soap is a safe default. Let them practice lathering the backs of their hands and between their fingers, and praise the 20-second scrub.

Bar, liquid or foam?

• Bar soap: inexpensive, low-waste and just as effective. Keep it on a draining dish. Research suggests germs on a bar are not transferred to your hands when you wash. See bar soap vs liquid hand soap.
• Liquid soap: convenient in shared spaces and kitchens.
• Foaming soap: uses less soap per wash. You can make your own by diluting liquid castile soap in a foaming pump. See how to use castile soap.

Caring for hands that wash a lot

If you wash your hands many times a day, for work or caring for someone, your skin takes a beating. Pat hands dry rather than rubbing, apply a fragrance-free hand cream after washing, and wear gloves for dishes and cleaning. If your hands crack, bleed or itch persistently, see a doctor or dermatologist.

Why plain soap is enough

Soap works by lifting germs and grime away so water can rinse them off. You do not need special antibacterial ingredients for everyday handwashing. See antibacterial soap vs regular soap for what the FDA found, and how does soap clean for the science.

When there is no soap

If soap and water are not available, the CDC recommends a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Sanitizer does not remove all types of germs or visible dirt, so wash with soap when you can.