Washing Your Hands Can Prevent Coronavirus. Here's the Right Way to Do It.

15:03 - 09 August 2024

You're Probably Washing Your Hands All Wrong

Fear of contracting coronavirus has taken over America. There are more than 80 confirmed cases in the United States and no vaccine in sight. But washing your hands can keep you healthy and is one of the best ways to prevent the coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention .

You probably think you know how to wash your hands, since you do it hopefully multiple times a day. But it turns out, 97 percent of Americans wash incorrectly, according to data from the United States Department of Agriculture.

The USDA found that when it comes to hand washing, people make two common mistakes: not washing long enough , and drying their hands on a dirty towel .

Washing Your Hands Prevents Flu

To reduce the spread of germs, disease, and illness (like the flu or coronavirus) here's a quick how-to on proper hand washing, courtesy of the CDC .

Wet hands with clean water.
Rub hands together to create a lather. Be sure to lather the back of your hands and between your fingers. Don't forget to clean under your nails as bacteria like E. coli can hide in the crevices.
Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, which is like singing the happy birthday song twice.
Rinse your hands with clean water.
Dry hands on a clean towel, which means it's been used no more than three times before getting tossed in the hamper.

Chances are, you're probably skimping out on how often you wash, too. The CDC recommends washing: