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Oct 29, 2024

Washing Hands: Benefits and Steps

Handwashing kills germs and helps prevent us from getting sick from viruses and bacteria. Many of us were taught to wash our hands when we were kids. But even if it's something we've done for years,

Handwashing kills germs and helps prevent us from getting sick from viruses and bacteria. Many of us were taught to wash our hands when we were kids. But even if it's something we've done for years, we might not be doing it right.

Here’s a look at why handwashing is so important, and how to do it properly.

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While the immune system works hard to fight these germs, it can only do so much alone. Proper handwashing cleans germs off your hands, helping keep your immune system healthy.

When you wash your hands, you reduce the amount of virus in or on your body, which means fewer germs for your immune system to fight off, says Vontrelle Roundtree, MD, a board-certified family physician and the associate chief medical officer at MDLIVE by Evernorth, a leading virtual care provider in the United States.

According to Dr. Roundtree, proper handwashing helps prevent the spread of germs that cause various illnesses, including:

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Washing your hands is key to stopping the spread of germs — provided you do it correctly.

Here are the proper handwashing steps.

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While hand sanitizer can keep your hands germ-free, handwashing is more effective.

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Handwashing is key to reducing the spread of germs and staying healthy, but you must do it correctly. Use running water and soap, scrub for at least 20 seconds, and dry your hands with a clean towel. Hand sanitizer is a good alternative if soap and water aren’t available. Sanitizer might not remove all dirt or certain germs, but it’s better than nothing.

Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.

Grant Chu, MD, is an assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Chu is also the associate director of education at the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine, using technology to further medical education.

He is board-certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a diplomate of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.He received a bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Brown University, where he also earned his medical degree. He has a master's in acupuncture and oriental medicine from South Baylo University and a master's in business administration from the University of Illinois. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles and a fellowship at the Center for East-West Medicine at UCLA. He has held academic appointments at the University of California in Irvine and the University of Queensland in Australia.

cold & flu

cold & flu

cold & flu

cold & flu

cold & flu

cold & flu

cold & flu

cold & flu

cold & flu

cold & flu