How do you wash your hands to remove germs?

Answer 1

Proper hand washing technique:
Use very warm water and soap (any soap is good, no special antibiotic soaps or other special soaps are necessary), briskly wash and rub hands, between fingers, and clean under fingernails* with suds for a minimum of 20 to 30 seconds, rinse and dry on a clean towel.

To know if you are washing your hands long enough for the germs to be removed from your hands, sing two verses of Mary Had a Little Lamb or sing Happy Birthday quickly twice before you stop washing and rubbing them with the soap suds. Friction is as important as the soap in removing the germs.

Keep some waterless hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol with you, and use it whenever soap and water are not available or in addition to soap and water. To properly use the sanitizers, rub hands briskly together as described above until all of the sanitizer has evaporated and hands are dry (or follow label directions).

There are some waterless hand sanitizers that do not contain alcohol. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in an August 5, 2009 update: Though the scientific evidence is not as extensive as that on hand washing and alcohol-based sanitizers, other hand sanitizers that do not contain alcohol may be useful for killing flu germs on hands in settings where alcohol-based products are prohibited.
*If nails are long, you may need to use a nail brush to thoroughly clean under nails. These short, stiff-bristled brushes are usually found in the cosmetic sections of drugstores and grocery stores. Rinse finger tips and the brush well after using.