Washing Your Hands: An In-Depth Guide to a Skill Everyone Needs

There are an ever increasing number of illnesses out there that we seem to encounter in our everyday lives. They surround us in the air we breathe and the things we touch. But for the most part they do us little harm. Your body’s immune system is like a bouncer, letting the good things in and keeping the rest at bay.

So then, why do we get sick? Well your body can only do so much for you; the rest is up to you. “Go wash your hands” is a term I’m sure everyone at some point has heard, whether it be from a concerned parent, a disgusted teacher or an annoyed spouse, washing your hands is considered by many to be the number one prevention method for common maladies such as colds or the flu.

Hand Washing Techniques

The hand is divided into six parts, the front, the back, the fingers, the webbing (the bit between your fingers) and the wrists. First moisten your hands under running water, and then cover your hands in soap. Rub the front of one of your hands on the back of the other for a full 10 seconds. Then reverse and wash the unwashed portion of each respective hand for another full 10 seconds.

The part of the hand that most people miss is between the fingers, be sure to scrub the webbing fairly well. The best method to do this is pent your fingers then interweave your fingers followed by returning them to their original position; do this step for at least 10 seconds for maximum effectiveness. The other key parts that most people miss are under the finger nails and the wrists. For your wrists it’s fairly simple just grasp one of your wrists with the opposite hand the rotate either hand back and forth for around 5 seconds, switch hands and repeat.

Under your fingernails can be a tricky place to wash, yet it is well worth the time if it’ll keep you from becoming bedridden for a week or two. The best way to reach this tricky spot is with a scrub brush, however if you don’t have a scrub brush with you another method is to press your fingers of one of your hands against the palm of the opposite one and push them put, this works best with shorter fingernails. Now rinse all the suds off your hands and wrists turn the taps of the sink with your elbows if possible and dry your hands on a cloth or paper towel.
Congratulations you’ve have now successfully washed your hands and can go and eat your dinner with the peace of mind of knowing that your hands are clean.