What is the right way to wash my hands?

You may think that washing hands is as instinctual as blinking, but it's not. Believe it or not, there is a correct method and technique you should use if you want to reduce the germs on your hands. Follow the below steps, and you'll be fine.

By the way, only use an alcohol hand sanitizer as an alternative to hand washing when you can't physically wash your hands; using alcohol gel alone misses many bad bacteria.

The Correct Hand Washing Method:

• Use very warm running water and soap
• Scrub both sides of the hands for about 20 or 30 seconds.
• Pay close attention to under the fingernails and around the hair follicles on the fingers and on the back of the hands.
• Rinse well with very warm, running water.
• Dry hands with a disposable paper towel.

You should wash your hands:

• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers (wash the hands of the diapered child, too)
• After helping a child at the toilet
• Whenever hands come in contact with any body fluid, e.g., vomit, saliva, runny noses, etc.
• Before fixing or eating food
• After touching raw meat, poultry, fish or eggs
• After shaking hands
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose (though you can change your sneeze habits, so that you sneeze into the crook of your elbow
• After handling money
• After riding public transportation
• And at any point where you feel your hands might be at risk: When in doubt, wash 'em out.