Why You Should Wash Your Hands Often
Have you ever been to the bathroom and realize someone didn’t wash their hands as they walked out? Don’t be that person! Never leave someone wondering whether or not you washed your hands.
You may be wondering why you should wash your hands often. Please refer to the CDC for accurate information on COVID-19 or other illnesses/diseases.
Washing your hands should be the number one thing that you do the most often, especially for healthy living. Washing your hands is the best way to prevent germs from spreading.
When germs aren’t killed by hand washing, they go on living in other places, like countertops, kitchen tables, and bathrooms.
Germs can live on surfaces and they can live in the food we eat. The global rates of people washing their hands after using the bathroom are at 19%. That’s an insane statistic.
Why You Should Wash Your Hands Often
Have you ever thought about why you should wash your hands? Obviously, we know it kills germs. However, there are actually many reasons out there for washing your hands.
There is actual science behind washing your hands. In fact, this is one of the best ways to keep yourself from getting sick.
Removes Germs From Hands
The most obvious reason for washing your hands often is that it removes germs from hands. There isn’t anything else in the world that can remove germs off your hands, like washing them can.
Yes, hand sanitizer works, but it’s not the very best thing for removing germs. This is what can happen if you don’t wash your hands to remove germs.
Germs Get Into Food and Drinks
When germs are not killed, they multiply. When they multiply, they get into your food and drinks. If you are preparing food, then the germs will get into the food, contaminating them.
In the right circumstances, germs can even multiply in food and drinks, which can make you even sicker.
Germs Can Transfer
Think about it, when your hands are not washed, those germs are then transferred to other things. Germs can live on almost every surface.
Germs then move from one person to another, and the cycle continues of people getting sick.
Saves Your Life
While it may sound dramatic that handwashing saves your life, it’s not. According to the CDC “About 1.8 million children under the age of 5 die each year from diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, the top two killers of young children around the world.” source
Battles Antibiotic Resistance
If you haven’t been reading up on antibiotic resistance, it’s time to do so. When you wash your hands, you are battling against antibiotic resistance.
When you wash your hands, you are preventing sickness. Since there is an overuse of antibiotics in the world, antibiotic resistance is becoming more and more of a real thing. Which Antibiotics Work Best For Which Infection
What Happens When You Wash Your Hands?
When you take the time to wash your hands, you are doing several things:
- You are helping keep germs from spreading.
- You are keeping yourself from getting sick.
- You are keeping others from getting sick.
- Removing germs through handwashing helps reduce the spread of diarrhea.
- Removing germs through handwashing helps reduce the spread of respiratory infections.
- When you wash your hands, you’re keeping those who are immune-compromised from getting sick from certain germs.
When Should You Wash Your Hands?
Now that you know WHY you should wash your hands, you may be wondering when you should wash your hands. Here are some instances when you should wash your hands:
- Before prepping food or cooking.
- Before eating and after eating.
- Before and after caring for someone who is sick.
- After using the bathroom.
- After touching an animal.
- After touching garbage.
- Before and after doing first aid on someone.
- After anything pet related.
- After cleaning.
- Before and after caring for someone in diapers.
When Should Hand Sanitizer Be Used?
I use hand sanitizer all the time. However, you should always wash your hands if you’re able. Hand sanitizer isn’t always equal. Look at the product label to make sure it contains at least 60% alcohol.
It’s important to note that hand sanitizer doesn’t get rid of all germs. It’s a great alternative when there is no soap and water available for traditional hand washing.
I keep a small hand sanitizer container with a pump in my car and Mark and I use it every time we go somewhere and get back in the car.
This works for us to cut down on stuff our hands may have picked up unknowingly.
How to REALLY Wash Your Hands
Have you thought about how you should wash your hands? While most of us do know how to wash hands, I wanted to give you the quick rundown recommended by the CDC.
Step One:
Turn on the water and get your hands wet with cold or warm water.
Step Two:
Grab some soap and lather your hands together with the soap. Make sure you clean the front and back of your hands. Also, wash in between those fingers!
Step Three:
Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Make sure you do it for at least the whole 20 seconds. You can set a timer if you need to.
Step Four:
Rinse your hands really well. When you are done, you can use a clean towel to dry them. Please never share a hand towel in the bathroom.
If possible, have your own one. I use paper towels in my bathroom.
Stock Your Home Pharmacy
- Electrolyte Drip Drop
- Cough Lozenges
- Imodium
- Aspirin
- Tylenol
- Ibuprofen
- Vicks VapoRub
- Bag Balm
- Dr. Bronner’s Soap
- Hand Sanitizer
- Tooth Brushes and Toothpaste
- Orajel
- Benadryl
- Advil
- First Aid Supplies
- Survival Medical HandBook
- Non-latex Gloves
- Antibacterial Soap
- Bars of Soap
- Emergen-C
- Lip Balm
- Nasal Spray
- Vitamins
- Essential Oils
- Allergy Medications
- Infant Fever Reducer Medications
- Child Fever Reducer Medications
Final Word
Proper handwashing is critical. Not only does it keep you from getting germs, it really keeps other people from getting those germs from you.
The next time you’re tempted to not wash your hands, think about these tips and WHY washing your hands is such a good idea. May God bless this world, Linda
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Copyright Images: Washing Hands Depositphotos_28423197_s-2019, Hand Sanitizer Depositphotos_76447447_s-2019
Something I’m guilty of is not washing my hands enough and touching my face too much especially when I’m working.
Things we take for granted like those little hand sanitizers folks would pass out on keychains as gifts for attending an event or whatever. Now the mad scramble to find anything anywhere lol. I don’t feel so silly keeping them anymore.
Hi Matt, I think this post will hopefully make everyone aware of washing their hand more often. Those little keychain hand sanitizers are the best!! Linda
Good morning. I was wondering if you have recipe (to share) for homemade hand sanitizer?
Many stores are completely out and online sources are very overpriced at this time.
Thank you for your great articles & advice!
Hi Laura, I do not have a recipe for homemade hand sanitizer. I better get on that! Let’s see if my readers have one. Thank you, Linda
I’ve seen a couple of recipes in online searches. Alcohol, aloe vera gel, glycerin & essential oils. I haven’t tried it yet. I have Aloe Vera gel ordered and on the way.
I just figured that YOU are my (our) expert. So if you have a go to recipe, that’s the one I will trust.
Regards, Laura
Hi Laura, you are no nice! I really do a lot of research before I write anything. It’s funny Mark and I live in a small town and it’s hard to find large containers of hand sanitizer. The funny thing is I would go to the dollar store and buy small containers but I never thought to make it. I’m on it. Stay tuned!! Linda
Thinking of the recent reported runs on soap and hand sanitizers… Someone on a prepper forum asked rhetorically–just what have all these people been using to clean their hands until now? It *is* a scary thought…
And, thinking back to a lesson the school nurse did with my first graders one time. She rubbed something on her own hands (whatever it was, was invisible except under black-light) and then shook hands with one child–who passed along the handshake to the next child, and on round the room. Then she took out the black-light, and showed how everyone’s hands–even the very last child who got the handshake!–now had at least a little bit of glow, which of course represented germs on hands (and doorknobs, and handles, etc.) It was a super lesson. The nurse followed it with how to wash hands–I believe she had a couple of kids rub some veg oil on their hands, and try to wash it off in *cold* water…
Hi Rhonda, what a great lesson form that nurse, I love it! I can’t remember where I saw something on TV years ago where the person showed stuff from doorknobs, gas pump handles, the bank drive-through tubes, and grocery carts. Yikes, there was some bad stuff on those. I’ve never forgotten it! Let’s go wash our hands!! LOL! Linda
Linda,
Something I do to make sure I wash my hands for at least 20 seconds is to slowly sing the “Happy Birthday” song in my head while washing. I had heard this some years ago and timed myself. It works if you sing it slowly. Just thought I would pass that on. Of course, the trick is not to blast through the song too fast. Have a great day!
Hi Harry, that’s a great tip! I want people to be aware they do not have to stand in line to buy hand sanitizer. You can wash your hands with soap and water. Now, they know they can sing “Happy Birthday” to time themselves!! I love it! Linda
I got my two youngest granddaughters to sing twinkle twinkle little star, but with different, crazy grandpa’s weird lyrics. Now, they giggle as they wash.
Hi Bob, this is a great idea, I bet they smile the whole time you’re singing it! Love it, Linda
The Alphabet song works as well.
Hi Karl, great tip!!! Good to hear from you, stay well! Linda
Hi Linda,
Thanks so much for this post. As a nurse, I am always very aware of hand washing. I know that there are people who never think of this. Hoping that this post will encourage everyone to think about and actually wash their hands.
Thanks again,
Suzanne
Hi Susanne, I did not realize you are a nurse! I love hearing that! I really hope people just wash their hands and maybe we can all get through this Coronavirus without a bunch of hooplas! Linda
Here’s a recipe:
Homemade Hand Sanitizer Ingredients
* 2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or ethanol
* 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
* 8-10 drops essential oil, optional (such as lavender, vanilla, peppermint, grapefruit)
* bowl and spoon
* funnel
* recycled liquid soap or hand sanitizer bottle
Make Hand Sanitizer
Nothing could be easier! Simply mix the ingredients together and then use the funnel to pour them into the bottle. Screw the pump back onto the bottle and you’re ready to go.
How It Works
The active ingredient in this hand sanitizer recipe is the alcohol, which needs to comprise at least 60% of the product in order to be an effective disinfectant.
Hi Kristine, I will try this one, thank you so much!!! Linda
Unfortunately, once all this pandemic stuff goes away and people go back to not washing their hands as often, these songs will still be stuck in their heads!
Hi Karl, I know, right???? I’m sitting here watching Frozen (Disney) with some grandkids. It’s the 3rd time this week. The music makes you smile every time!! Stay well, and keep on singing. Linda