Five Minutes or Less for Health Weekly Tip: Wash Hands

• Handwashing is like a "do-it-yourself" vaccine—it involves five simple and effective steps (think Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry). Take these steps to help protect yourself and others against the spread of germs.
• If soap and clean running water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean your hands.
• Wash hands:
  • Before, during, and after preparing food
  • Before eating food
  • After using the bathroom
  • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom
  • Before and after caring for someone who is sick
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After handling an animal or animal waste
  • After touching garbage
  • Before and after treating a cut or wound
  • More frequently when you or others around you are sick

Learn More

• Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives
• Clean Hands Prevent Spread of Infection and Illness
• World Wash Up game
• BAM Hand Washing Experiment