Handwashing Mistakes You’re Probably Making and How to Fix Them

Handwashing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of illness and infection. It’s something we’ve been taught to do since childhood, yet studies show that many people don’t do it correctly. Improper handwashing techniques can leave you vulnerable to pathogens, despite your best efforts. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the importance of handwashing, common mistakes people make, and the best practices to ensure your hands are truly clean.

The Science Behind Handwashing

Handwashing is not just a ritual; it’s a scientifically proven method to reduce the transmission of infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), handwashing can reduce the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 23-40% and reduce respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16-21%.

The process works by physically removing pathogens from your skin. Soap molecules have hydrophobic (water-repelling) tails and hydrophilic (water-attracting) heads. When you lather your hands with soap, the hydrophobic tails attach to oils and grease that contain germs on your skin, while the hydrophilic heads help to wash them away with water. This process effectively dislodges and removes harmful microorganisms, reducing your chances of getting sick or spreading illness to others.

Common Handwashing Mistakes

Despite the effectiveness of handwashing, many people still fall short of proper technique. Here are some of the most common mistakes:

1. Not Washing Long Enough: The CDC recommends scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Most people, however, wash their hands for less than 10 seconds, which is not enough time to effectively remove germs.
2. Skipping Soap: Rinsing hands with water alone might seem sufficient, but soap is essential for breaking down oils and grease that harbor bacteria and viruses.
3. Not Drying Hands Properly: Wet hands are more likely to spread germs than dry ones. Failing to dry your hands thoroughly after washing can negate the benefits of handwashing.
4. Using Antibacterial Soap Incorrectly: While antibacterial soaps are popular, they are not necessarily more effective than regular soap. Moreover, improper use of antibacterial soap can contribute to antibiotic resistance.
5. Touching Contaminated Surfaces After Washing: Immediately touching a dirty surface, such as a door handle or faucet, after washing your hands can reintroduce germs to your clean hands.
6. Neglecting Fingernails and Wrists: Many people focus only on the palms and fingers, neglecting areas like under the fingernails and wrists, where germs can hide.
7. Wearing Jewelry: Rings and bracelets can trap germs and make it more difficult to clean your hands thoroughly.
8. Using Hand Sanitizer as a Substitute: Hand sanitizer is a good alternative when soap and water are unavailable, but it should not replace proper handwashing. Sanitizers may not be as effective at removing certain types of germs and are less effective on visibly dirty hands.

The Correct Way to Wash Your Hands

To ensure that you’re washing your hands effectively, follow these steps:

1. Wet Your Hands with Clean, Running Water: Use warm or cold water, and avoid washing in standing water, which may be contaminated.
2. Apply Soap: Use enough soap to cover all surfaces of your hands. Liquid, bar, or powdered soap can all be effective.
3. Lather Thoroughly: Rub your hands together to create a lather. Be sure to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, between your fingers, under your fingernails, and up to your wrists. This process should take at least 20 seconds. A helpful tip is to hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice to gauge the time.
4. Rinse Well: Hold your hands under clean, running water, ensuring that all soap and lather are washed away. The water should be allowed to flow downward, from wrists to fingertips, to avoid recontaminating your hands.
5. Dry Your Hands: Use a clean towel, air dryer, or let your hands air dry. If using a towel, avoid sharing it with others to prevent the spread of germs.
6. Use a Towel to Turn Off the Faucet: If you’re in a public restroom, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door to avoid touching contaminated surfaces with your clean hands.

When Should You Wash Your Hands?

Knowing when to wash your hands is as crucial as knowing how to wash them. Here are some key times to wash your hands:

• Before Eating: To prevent ingesting harmful bacteria.
• After Using the Bathroom: Restrooms are a common place for pathogens.
• Before and After Preparing Food: Particularly when handling raw meat, poultry, or fish.
• After Coughing, Sneezing, or Blowing Your Nose: To avoid spreading respiratory infections.
• After Touching Animals or Animal Waste: Pets can carry germs that are harmful to humans.
• After Handling Garbage: Trash is a hotspot for bacteria.
• Before and After Treating a Wound: To prevent infection.
• After Changing Diapers or Cleaning Up a Child Who Has Used the Toilet: To avoid spreading germs to others.

The Role of Handwashing in Preventing Illness

Regular handwashing is a frontline defense against many illnesses, including respiratory infections like the flu and the common cold, gastrointestinal infections such as norovirus, and even skin infections like impetigo. By removing germs from your hands, you reduce the likelihood of transferring them to your face, where they can enter your body through your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Moreover, proper handwashing is especially critical in healthcare settings, where it can prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). These infections are a significant concern in hospitals and clinics, where vulnerable patients can be easily infected by pathogens transmitted by healthcare workers or visitors.

Handwashing and COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of hand hygiene. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can survive on surfaces for varying lengths of time. If you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your face, you could contract the virus. Regular and thorough handwashing is a simple but effective way to reduce your risk of COVID-19, alongside other preventive measures like wearing masks and practicing physical distancing.

During the pandemic, public health agencies have repeatedly emphasized the importance of handwashing as part of a broader strategy to prevent the spread of the virus. Despite the availability of vaccines and other interventions, hand hygiene remains a critical tool in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Why Handwashing Isn’t Enough on Its Own

While handwashing is incredibly important, it’s not the only measure you should take to avoid getting sick. Combining hand hygiene with other preventive strategies offers the best protection against illness. These strategies include:

• Avoiding Close Contact with Sick Individuals: Respiratory viruses like the flu and COVID-19 spread easily from person to person. Maintaining physical distance from those who are ill can reduce your risk.
• Wearing a Mask in Crowded or Enclosed Spaces: Masks can help block respiratory droplets that may contain viruses.
• Keeping Your Immune System Strong: A healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management can all support your immune system.
• Staying Up to Date with Vaccinations: Vaccines provide crucial protection against many infectious diseases.
• Cleaning and Disinfecting Frequently Touched Surfaces: Regularly disinfecting surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, and phones can reduce the risk of surface-to-hand transmission.

Conclusion

Handwashing is a simple yet powerful tool in the fight against illness, but only if done correctly. By avoiding common mistakes and following the recommended techniques, you can significantly reduce your risk of getting sick. Remember, hand hygiene should be part of a broader strategy that includes other preventive measures to keep you and those around you healthy.

Proper handwashing is not just a personal responsibility but a public health necessity. In the wake of global health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding and practicing effective hand hygiene has never been more critical. Make handwashing a habit, and do it right every time.