Empowering women to live healthier lives!
Call Us! 800-994-9662
Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (EST)
Text size
Email
Print
Health Tip: How to Wash Your Hands Properly
(HealthDay News) -- Got germs? Everyone does. So you need to wash your hands properly to prevent the potential spread of infection.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these guidelines for proper hand washing:
- Rinse your hands under warm or cool running water, then apply soap.
- Lather the soap between your hands, scrubbing your fingers, the fronts and backs of your hands and under your nails.
- Wash for at least 20 seconds. That's about how long it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" to yourself.
- Thoroughly rinse under clean running water, then dry your hands on a dry towel or let them air dry.
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
HealthDay news articles are derived from various sources and do not reflect federal policy. Womenshealth.gov does not endorse opinions, products, or services that may appear in news stories.
A federal government website managed by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.200 Independence Avenue, S.W. • Washington, DC 20201
202-690-7650 • Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST (closed on federal holidays).
womenshealth.gov
A federal government website managed by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
200 Independence Avenue, S.W. • Washington, DC 20201