For the figure of speech in the law-based context, see Clean hands. For the biblical passage, see Pontius Pilate.
Act of cleaning one's hands
Hand washing
Hand washing with soap and water at a sink
Other names
Handwashing, hand hygiene
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Hand washing (or handwashing), also known as hand hygiene, is the act of cleaning one's hands with soap or handwash and water to remove viruses/bacteria/microorganisms, dirt, grease, and other harmful or unwanted substances stuck to the hands. Drying of the washed hands is part of the process as wet and moist hands are more easily recontaminated.[1][2] If soap and water are unavailable, hand sanitizer that is at least 60% (v/v) alcohol in water can be used as long as hands are not visibly excessively dirty or greasy.[3][4] Hand hygiene is central to preventing the spread of infectious diseases in home and everyday life settings.[5]
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends washing hands for at least 20 seconds before and after certain activities.[6][7] These include the five critical times during the day where washing hands with soap is important to reduce fecal-oral transmission of disease: after using the toilet (for urination, defecation, menstrual hygiene), after cleaning a child's bottom (changing diapers), before feeding a child, before eating and before/after preparing food or handling raw meat, fish, or poultry.[8]
When neither hand washing nor using hand sanitizer is possible, hands can be cleaned with uncontaminated ash and clean water, although the benefits and harms are uncertain for reducing the spread of viral or bacterial infections.[9] However, frequent hand washing can lead to skin damage due to drying of the skin.[10] Moisturizing lotion is often recommended to keep the hands from drying out; dry skin can lead to skin damage which can increase the risk for the transmission of infection.[11]
^"Show Me the Science – How to Wash Your Hands". www.cdc.gov. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^Cite error: The named reference Huang2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 11 February 2020.
^Centers for Disease Control (2 April 2020). "When and How to Wash Your Hands". cdc.gov.
^Bloomfield, Sally F.; Aiello, Allison E.; Cookson, Barry; O'Boyle, Carol; Larson, Elaine L. (December 2007). "The effectiveness of hand hygiene procedures in reducing the risks of infections in home and community settings including hand washing and alcohol-based hand sanitizers". American Journal of Infection Control. 35 (10): S27–S64. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2007.07.001. PMC 7115270.
^"WHO: How to handwash? With soap and water". YouTube.
^"Hand Hygiene: How, Why & When" (PDF). World Health Organization.
^"UNICEF Malawi". www.unicef.org. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
^Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^de Almeida e Borges LF, Silva BL, Gontijo Filho PP (August 2007). "Hand washing: changes in the skin flora". American Journal of Infection Control. 35 (6): 417–20. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2006.07.012. PMID 17660014.
^Wilkinson JM, Treas LA (2011). Fundamentals of Nursing (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co.
Handwashing (or handwashing), also known as hand hygiene, is the act of cleaning one's hands with soap or handwash and water to remove viruses/bacteria/microorganisms...
part of washing. 'Washing' can also refer to the washing of clothing or other cloth items, like bedsheets, whether by hand or with a washing machine....
Jewish law and custom prescribe ritual handwashing in a number of situations. This practice is generally known by the Hebrew term נטילת ידיים (netilat...
than soft implements like cloths at dislodging hard particles, washing simply with the hands is also done and can be effective as well. Dishwashing detergent...
the hands. It can also come in the form of a cream, spray, or wipe. In most settings, handwashing with soap and water is generally preferred. Hand sanitizer...
fuel to heat the water, than handwashing, except for small quantities washed in wash bowls without running water. Hand-washing techniques vary by individual...
public health agencies during outbreaks. Prevention involves proper handwashing and disinfection of contaminated surfaces. There is no vaccine or specific...
Laundry is the washing of clothing and other textiles, and, more broadly, their drying and ironing as well. Laundry has been part of history since humans...
for washing, boiling, and rinsing the laundry from a pump, well, or spring. Water for the laundry would be hand carried, heated on a fire for washing, then...
grime, which can then be separated from the article being cleaned. In handwashing, as a surfactant, when lathered with a little water, soap kills microorganisms...
washing, or ablution, takes two main forms. Tevilah (טְבִילָה) is a full body immersion in a mikveh, and netilat yadayim is the washing of the hands with...
Triggers may include allergens, physical or mental stress, frequent handwashing, or metals. Diagnosis is typically based on what it looks like and the...
sleep hygiene, and food hygiene. Home and every day hygiene includes handwashing, respiratory hygiene, food hygiene at home, hygiene in the kitchen, hygiene...
A hand dryer is an electric machine which might make use of a heating element and an air blower to dry the hands after handwashing. It is commonly used...
treatment in the washing machine. A double bar signifies very gentle handling. A hand in the tub signifies that only (gentle) handwashing (not above 40 °C)...
person's personal washing of the face to appear in public, the cleansing of an injured person's wounds, Pontius Pilate's washing of his hands as a symbolic...
rely on a combination of mechanical and chemical action. Methods include: Washing, usually done with water and often some kind of soap or detergent Mopping...
healthcare workers in obstetrical clinics to disinfect their hands. In 1847, he proposed handwashing with chlorinated lime solutions at Vienna General Hospital's...
intestine, especially of the colon. Efforts to prevent dysentery include handwashing and food safety measures while traveling in countries of high risk. While...
is typically based on the symptoms and appearance. Prevention is by handwashing, avoiding people who are infected, and cleaning injuries. Treatment is...
Diarrhea can be prevented by improved sanitation, clean drinking water, and handwashing with soap. Breastfeeding for at least six months and vaccination against...
causes the skin to lose moisture and it may crack and peel. Bathing or handwashing too frequently, especially if one is using harsh soaps, can contribute...
one's cultural context). In the Baháʼí Faith, ritual ablutions (the washing of the hands and face) should be done before the saying of the obligatory prayers...
are more commonly affected. Exposure to certain chemicals or frequent handwashing makes symptoms worse. While emotional stress may make the symptoms worse...
Global Handwashing Day (GHD) is an international handwashing promotion campaign to motivate and mobilize people around the world to improve their hand washing...
and drinking of the second cup of wine Rach'tzah (רחצה) Washing – second washing of the hands Motzi (מוציא)"Who brings out..." – blessing over the bread...
The primary methods of prevention are handwashing; not touching the eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands; and staying away from sick people. Some...
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