How It Works: Washing Hands with Soap and Water

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.
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.