Good Hand Washing Hygiene Guidelines

10 May 2022

Frequent hand-washing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness. Whilst hand gel is excellent for cleaning hands, don’t forget to teach good hand hygiene with the use of soap and water.

Here's some best practice guidance, content courtesy of Mayo Clinic and St Guys Hospital.

When to wash your hands

As you touch people, surfaces and objects throughout the day, you accumulate germs on your hands. You can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth, or spread them to others. Although it's impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands frequently can help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes.

Whilst hand gel is excellent for cleaning hands, don’t forget to teach good hand hygiene with the use of soap and water

Always wash your hands before:

Preparing food or eating
Treating wounds or caring for a sick person
Inserting or removing contact lenses

Always wash your hands after:

Preparing food
Using the toilet, changing a diaper or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
Touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste
Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
Treating wounds or caring for a sick person
Handling garbage
Handling pet food or pet treats
When hands are visibly dirty

How to wash your hands

Do not assume that children know how to wash their hands. Watch how they wash their hands and teach them the correct way.

Wet your hands with clean, running water — either warm or cold.
Apply soap and lather well.
Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
Rinse well.
Dry your hands with a clean towel or air-dry them.

Do not assume that children know how to wash their hands. Watch how they wash their hands and teach them the correct way.

How to use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser

If you use a hand sanitiser, make sure the product contains at least 60% alcohol

Alcohol-based hand sanitisers, which don't require water, are an acceptable alternative when soap and water aren't available. If you use a hand sanitiser, make sure the product contains at least 60% alcohol.

Follow these steps:

Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand. Check the label to find out the appropriate amount
Rub your hands together.
Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.
Be sure to supervise young children using alcohol-based hand sanitisers. Swallowing alcohol-based sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning. Store the container safely away after use.