Washing Your Hands

Header Image: 
A woman displaying her hands at a sink.

Washing your hands

1. Wet your hands with warm (110°F), running water.

A woman washing her hands with soap and water at a sink.

2. Apply soap.

A woman at a sink preparing to wash her hands with soap.

3. Rub hands together for at least 20 seconds.

A woman washing her hands with soap at a sink with running water.

4. Clean under fingernails and between fingers.

A woman washes to soap from her hands at a sink using running water.

5. Rinse hands thoroughly under running water.

A woman washes her hands at a sink with running water.

6. Dry hands. Throw the towel in a trash can.

M1386 (POD-07-17) Distributed by Jenna Schilling, PhD, Extension Associate, Human Sciences.

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Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. GARY B. JACKSON, Director