By: Brittany Austin, MBA, PAC P, Vice President of Health and Wellness, Functional Pathways
Handwashing is something most of us do every day without giving it much thought. It is a routine habit that often takes less than a minute, yet it remains one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves and those around us from illness.
From grocery store carts and elevator buttons to cell phones, keyboards, and door handles, we come into contact with countless surfaces throughout the day. While many of the microorganisms we encounter are harmless, others have the potential to cause respiratory illnesses, stomach viruses, and other infections. Because germs are invisible to the naked eye, it is easy to underestimate how quickly they can spread through our homes, workplaces, healthcare settings, and communities.
The good news is that one simple habit can make a significant difference. Proper hand hygiene is one of the easiest, most affordable, and most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness while protecting your own health and the health of those around you.
What Are Germs?
"Germs" is a general term used to describe microorganisms that can cause disease. These include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and certain parasites. While many microorganisms play beneficial roles in our bodies and environment, harmful germs can enter the body through the eyes, nose, mouth, or open skin and lead to infection.
Because germs cannot be seen without a microscope, they are easily transferred from person to person or from contaminated surfaces to our hands without us ever realizing it. Something as simple as touching a doorknob, using a shared computer keyboard, handling money, or picking up a shopping basket can introduce germs that may later be transferred to the face.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that proper handwashing remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many common illnesses.
How Germs Spread Throughout the Day
Most people think of coughing and sneezing when they think about germs, but microorganisms spread in many different ways throughout the day.
Germs can be transmitted through direct contact with another person, touching contaminated surfaces, handling food without proper hygiene, sharing personal items, or caring for someone who is sick. Once germs are on our hands, it only takes a quick touch of the eyes, nose, or mouth for them to enter the body.
In busy environments such as workplaces, schools, healthcare facilities, restaurants, and grocery stores, a single contaminated surface may be touched by dozens or even hundreds of people throughout the day. This makes hand hygiene one of the simplest ways to interrupt the chain of infection before illness spreads further.
Why Handwashing Matters
Handwashing is more than a personal hygiene habit. It is one of the most effective public health measures available.
According to the CDC, proper handwashing helps reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, stomach viruses, foodborne illnesses, and many other infectious diseases. It also helps protect individuals who may be more vulnerable to infection, including older adults, young children, and people with weakened immune systems.
Consistent hand hygiene benefits everyone. It helps reduce missed days at work or school, protects family members, and contributes to healthier communities.
In healthcare and senior living settings, proper hand hygiene is especially important because it helps reduce the transmission of infections among residents, patients, visitors, and healthcare professionals.
When Should You Wash Your Hands?
While many people remember to wash their hands after using the restroom, there are numerous other situations where hand hygiene plays an important role in preventing the spread of illness.
The CDC recommends washing your hands:
- Before eating or preparing food
- Before treating a wound or caring for someone who is sick
- After using the restroom
- After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
- After changing diapers or assisting someone in the restroom
- After handling garbage
- After touching animals, pet food, or animal waste
- After visiting public places
- After using shared equipment, shopping carts, or high touch surfaces
- Whenever your hands are visibly dirty
Making handwashing part of your daily routine significantly reduces the opportunity for germs to spread throughout your day.
The Right Way to Wash Your Hands
Not all handwashing is equally effective.
A quick rinse under water may remove visible dirt, but it does not effectively eliminate many harmful microorganisms. Proper handwashing requires both soap and time.
Follow these five simple steps:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water.
- Apply soap and create a rich lather.
- Scrub every surface of your hands, including the backs of your hands, between your fingers, around your thumbs, and underneath your fingernails.
- Continue scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse thoroughly under clean, running water and dry your hands using a clean towel or air dryer.
A simple way to estimate 20 seconds is to hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
When Hand Sanitizer Is a Good Alternative
Soap and water remain the gold standard for hand hygiene, but alcohol based hand sanitizer can be an effective alternative when handwashing facilities are unavailable.
Choose a hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol and apply enough product to cover all surfaces of the hands. Rub thoroughly until completely dry.
However, hand sanitizer does have limitations. It is less effective on visibly dirty or greasy hands and does not remove certain chemicals or contaminants. Whenever possible, washing with soap and water remains the preferred method.
The CDC's hand sanitizer guidance provides additional recommendations on choosing and using alcohol based hand sanitizers effectively.
Small Habits Have a Lasting Impact
Healthy habits are often the simplest ones.
Handwashing takes less than a minute, requires no expensive equipment, and can significantly reduce the spread of illness throughout homes, workplaces, schools, healthcare facilities, and communities.
Like staying physically active, eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and staying hydrated, proper hand hygiene is one of the everyday habits that contributes to long term wellness.
At Functional Pathways, we believe healthy aging begins with proactive choices that support both individual wellness and community health. Explore additional healthy aging resources in our Clinical Resource Hub, where you'll find expert guidance on nutrition, hydration, brain health, mobility, and overall wellness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Handwashing and Germ Prevention
Good hand hygiene is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and others from illness. Below are answers to some of the most common questions about handwashing and preventing the spread of germs.
How long should you wash your hands?
The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to effectively remove germs and reduce the spread of illness.
Is hand sanitizer as effective as handwashing?
Alcohol based hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol is an effective alternative when soap and water are unavailable. However, handwashing remains the preferred method, especially when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
What illnesses can proper handwashing help prevent?
Regular handwashing helps reduce the spread of colds, influenza, COVID-19, norovirus, foodborne illnesses, respiratory infections, and many other contagious diseases.
Why is hand hygiene especially important for older adults?
Older adults often have weaker immune systems and may be more susceptible to complications from infections. Good hand hygiene helps reduce exposure to harmful germs while supporting healthier aging.
When should I wash my hands besides after using the restroom?
Wash your hands before eating or preparing food, after coughing or sneezing, after touching shared surfaces, after handling garbage, after caring for someone who is sick, after touching animals, and whenever your hands are visibly dirty.
Healthy Communities Start with Healthy Habits
Preventing illness does not always require complicated solutions. Often, the simplest habits have the greatest impact.
Proper handwashing helps protect your health, supports healthier families, reduces the spread of illness in workplaces and communities, and plays an essential role in infection prevention.
To learn more about how Functional Pathways promotes healthy aging and wellness, explore our Clinical Resource Hub, discover our Wellness Programs, or learn more about our Contract Rehabilitative Therapy Services.
