How to Properly Wash Hands- WHO Guidelines

Handwashing is a critical practice to prevent the spread of infections. This guide illustrates the steps recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure thorough hand hygiene. Proper hand washing reduces the transmission of diseases, especially in medical and healthcare settings.

1. Soap
2. Running water
3. Single use paper towels or an air dryer for drying hands

Disclaimer: The entire process should take 40-60 seconds to complete and you should avoid touching unclean surfaces during the handwashing procedure to maintain hygiene.

Wet hands with water.

Apply soap to hands, ensuring soap is covering hands and palms entirely.

Rub palms of hands together in a circular motion.

Place right palm over the top of the left hand interlacing fingers and repeat switching hands.

Interlace your fingers to ensure the spaces between your fingers are cleaned.

Interlock the backs of your fingers to the opposing palms.

Rub thumbs in a circular motion using other thumb to cleans and vice versa.

Cleanse hands for a final time in a rotational motion with clasped fingers both backwards, forwards, and vice versa

Rinse soap off with water.

Dry your hand with a single use paper towel.

Turn off running water with paper towel keeping clean hands away from coming in contact with contaminated surfaces.

The final product should show a clean pair of hands, free from soap and water, demonstrating proper hygiene practice. Ensure your hands are fully dry.