Handwashing is one of the easiest habits you can build, and one of the most effective ways to stay healthy. As families return to busy routines of school, daycare, work, and activities, germs move quickly from hands to faces, toys, doorknobs, and dinner tables. Knowing how to wash your hands properly, and teaching your children to do it, can cut down on sick days, missed school, and unnecessary trips to the doctor.
At Advanced Internal Medicine, we see the benefits of good hand hygiene in our Sycamore and Elgin communities every day. This guide covers why handwashing matters, the right way to do it, when to do it, and how to make it a lasting habit for your whole family.
Why Handwashing Matters More Than You Think
Your hands touch everything: shopping carts, phones, railings, pets, and countless surfaces. Then they touch your eyes, nose, and mouth, which is one of the easiest ways for germs to enter your body.
Children are especially exposed. They spend their days in classrooms and daycare settings, sharing toys and supplies while still learning personal hygiene. It is common for young kids to wipe their noses with their hands and then touch everything around them.
Proper handwashing helps stop the spread of many illnesses, including:
- The common cold and influenza (flu)
- Stomach bugs and other causes of vomiting and diarrhea
- Strep throat and other bacterial infections
- Hepatitis A and other more serious illnesses
Washing your hands is easy, inexpensive, and effective. It protects you, and it protects the people around you, including infants, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
How to Wash Your Hands Properly: 5 Simple Steps
Many people rinse quickly and move on, but technique matters. Follow these steps every time:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water, warm or cold, and apply soap.
- Lather by rubbing your hands together to create suds. Cover the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Scrub for at least 20 seconds. A helpful trick is to hum or sing the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse thoroughly under clean, running water.
- Dry with a clean towel or air dry. Damp hands can pick up germs more easily, so don’t skip this step.
Most of the germs live in the spots people miss: fingertips, thumbs, wrists, and under the nails. Take a few extra seconds to scrub those areas.
When Should You and Your Kids Wash Hands?
Timing is just as important as technique. Remind your children (and yourself) to wash in these situations:
- Before eating and before cooking or handling food
- After using the bathroom or helping a child in the bathroom
- After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
- After cleaning around the house
- After touching animals, pets, or pet supplies
- After coming home from school, work, or errands
- After playing outside
- Before and after visiting or caring for sick friends or relatives
- After handling garbage or changing diapers
Build the habit into your daily rhythm. Washing as soon as you walk through the door, and before every meal, takes the guesswork out of it.
Soap and Water vs. Hand Sanitizer: What’s the Difference?
Here is an important public service reminder: hand sanitizer is not the same as washing your hands.
If you don’t have access to running water and soap, hand sanitizer is a good backup. Choose one with at least 60% alcohol, apply enough to cover all surfaces of your hands, and rub until dry. But nothing replaces washing with soap and water. Sanitizer may not work well on hands that are visibly dirty or greasy, and it may not be as effective against certain germs, such as norovirus.
Keep a small bottle of sanitizer in your car, backpack, or purse for times when there’s no sink nearby. Treat it as a stopgap, and wash with soap and water as soon as you can.
How to Teach Kids to Wash Their Hands
Children know the rules, but they still need reminders. These strategies help handwashing stick:
Lead by example. Wash your hands alongside your children. Kids learn most by watching you.
Talk about it. Explain when and why you’re washing. For example, “I just touched the trash can, so I’m going to wash my hands.” Narrating your habits makes the reasons clear.
Make it fun. Sing “Happy Birthday” twice together so your child learns how long 20 seconds really is. Colorful soaps, fun dispensers, or a step stool at the sink can also help.
Create routines. Set simple family rules, such as washing before every meal and after every bathroom visit. Routines remove the need for constant nagging.
Stay consistent. Repetition is what makes handwashing automatic. Keep reminding, and keep praising the effort.
Common Handwashing Mistakes to Avoid
Even people who wash often can make mistakes that reduce the benefit:
- Rushing. Quick rinses under the tap don’t remove germs. Aim for a full 20 seconds of scrubbing.
- Skipping the soap. Water alone isn’t enough. Soap lifts germs and dirt off the skin.
- Missing spots. Fingertips, thumbs, and nails are often overlooked.
- Using a dirty towel. Wet, shared towels can spread germs right back onto clean hands. Use a fresh towel or paper towel.
- Relying only on sanitizer. It’s helpful on the go, but it isn’t a full replacement for soap and water.
If frequent washing dries out your skin, use a fragrance-free moisturizer afterward. Healthy, intact skin is a better barrier against infection than cracked, irritated skin.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
Good hand hygiene lowers your risk of illness, but it can’t prevent every infection. Contact your healthcare provider if you or your child has a high or persistent fever, ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, signs of dehydration, trouble breathing, or symptoms that are getting worse instead of better.
Your primary care provider can also give you personalized guidance on hygiene, vaccinations, and overall wellness. Learn more about our primary care services and preventive care and wellness programs.
Conclusion
Handwashing is a small habit with a big payoff. By washing properly, at the right times, and teaching your children to do the same, you can significantly reduce the risk of illness and help protect your family and community. Make it part of your daily routine, keep reminding the kids, and lead by example.
Prevention Starts With Good Habits
For vaccines, checkups, and care that helps you avoid illness, request an appointment with our team.
FAQs:
Q1. How long should I wash my hands?
Ans: Wash for at least 20 seconds. That’s about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. Shorter washes may not remove enough germs.
Q2. Is hand sanitizer as good as soap and water?
Ans: No. Sanitizer is a useful alternative when soap and running water aren’t available, but soap and water is more effective overall, especially when hands are dirty or greasy. If you use sanitizer, choose one with at least 60% alcohol.
Q3. Does water temperature matter when washing hands?
Ans: No. Warm or cold water both work. The soap and the scrubbing action are what remove germs, so use whichever temperature is comfortable.
Q4. Do I need antibacterial soap?
Ans: No. Regular soap and water are effective for everyday handwashing. What matters most is using enough soap and scrubbing for the full 20 seconds.
Q5. At what age can children start washing their hands?
Ans: Toddlers can begin learning with help from an adult. Young children need supervision and reminders to scrub long enough and reach all areas of their hands.
Q6. Can handwashing really prevent colds and the flu?
Ans: Yes. Regular handwashing lowers your chances of catching and spreading many common illnesses, including colds and the flu. It works best alongside other healthy habits, such as staying home when sick and keeping up with recommended vaccines.
Q7. What should I do if frequent handwashing dries out my skin?
Ans: Apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer after washing, and pat your hands dry instead of rubbing. If your skin cracks, bleeds, or becomes very irritated, talk with your healthcare provider.
Q8. Where can I get personalized health advice in Sycamore or Elgin, IL?
Ans: Advanced Internal Medicine offers primary care and preventive services for adults and families in Sycamore, Elgin, and nearby communities. New patient appointments are often available within 48 hours.
Medically Reviewed By
At Advanced Internal Medicine of Northern Illinois, Dr. Ashima Salwan, MD, treats adult and geriatric patients, men and women alike, working through some of the most common and most connected health problems out there: obesity,...
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