How It Works: Washing Hands with Soap and Water

Components to washing with soap and water, the proper technique, and how washing with soap and water works.

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How It Works: Washing Hands with Soap and Water (PDF)

Components:

• Three components:
1. Soap
2. Warm water
3. Friction
   

Technique:

• Six steps:
  1. Wet hands with warm, running water.
  2. Add soap.
  3. Rub hands vigorously for 20 seconds.
     Wash all surfaces including:
     • Backs of hands
     • Wrists
     • Between fingers
     • Tips of fingers
     • Thumbs under fingernails—nailbrush is best
  4. Rinse.
     • Keep fingers pointing down
  5. Dry vigorously with paper or clean cloth towel.
  6. Turn off faucet with towel and open door with towel.

How it works:

• The soap suspends the dirt and soils.
• The friction motion helps pull dirt and greasy or oily soils free from the skin.
• Warm running water washes away suspended dirt and soils that trap germs.
• Final friction of wiping hands removes more germs.

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“Hand Washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection”

Spotlight

Hand Hygiene Print Materials
Signs, posters, brochures, manuals, curricula, and other hand hygiene materials that you can print and use.

Don't Forget to Wash Poster
This simple poster (available in two color options) shows six simple steps to washing hands.

Note:If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer. Wash your hands with soap and water when your hands are visibly soiled.

Food handlers in restaurants, schools, delis and grocery stores must wash their hands with soap and water before applying hand sanitizers. [Minn Rules Chap. 4626.0070 - 4626.0085] See Hand Hygiene for Food Handlers for more information.

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