When should you wash your hands?

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When should you wash your hands?

Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly is very important – no one likes having sticky fingers! Knowing how to do it properly removes dirt, viruses and bacteria from your hands and stops them from both infecting you, and spreading to surfaces, objects and other people! This can prevent the spread of illnesses like food poisoning, flu, diarrhoea and coronavirus. If you’d like more information, read the official advice on health, hygiene and coronavirus.

Read on to find out when you should wash your hands, and how to wash them effectively with just soap and water.

So when exactly should I wash my hands?

The more you wash your hands, the better! Here are some occasions where washing your hands is advised:

• After using the toilet or changing a nappy
• After touching rubbish or bins
• Before, during and after preparing food, particularly when handling raw foods like meat and vegetables
• Before eating or handling food
• After blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick, especially with vomiting or diarrhoea
• After touching animals, including household pets, their food and after cleaning their cages
• Before and after entering healthcare settings – such as visiting someone in hospital, or visiting the doctor

It’s also important to keep your house clean and free of germs, to stop them transferring onto your hands in the first place! Our guide on health and hygiene in the home has some handy tips for all the different areas of your house.

How to wash your hands

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Clean, running water
• Soap
• Plenty Kitchen Towels

Here’s how to wash your hands in a way that makes sure every part of your hands gets properly cleaned. It should take around 20 seconds – about the same time as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice!

1.  

   

    

   To start off, wet your hands with clean, running water. If you’re worried about the amount of water you’re using, read our guide on how to save water at home.
   
   

2.  

   

    

   Apply a good amount of soap – enough to cover your hands. Using either a bar of soap or liquid soap is fine!
   
   

3.  

   

    

   Rub your hands together to create a lather.
   
   
4. Use one of your hands to rub the back of your other hand. Pay special attention to clean in between your fingers. Swap hands and repeat.
   
   
5. Rub your hands together, again making sure to clean in between your fingers.
   
   
6. Clean the backs of your fingers against your palms by holding them together in a clasped position.
   
   
7. Clean the tips of your fingers by rubbing them in small circular motions against the opposite palm.
   
   
8. Rub your thumb using your opposite hand. Then do the same for the opposite thumb.
   
   

9.  

   

    

   Rinse the soap off your hands with water.
   
   

10.  

    

     

    Dry off your hands hygienically using a Plenty Flexisheets. They’re perfect for quick-access post-hand washing thanks to their handy single sheets.
    
    

11.  

    

     

    Use the disposable Plenty Flexisheets to turn off the tap without touching it with your clean hands!

It’s as easy as that! Now wherever you are, you can be sure that you’re washing your hands in a thorough and hygienic way. If you want to learn more, why not read our articles on the 10 golden rules of kitchen hygiene and our complete guide to health and hygiene in the home.