Hand Washing 101

Are your co-workers, friends, family, and strangers sneezing and coughing all around you? Do you find yourself holding your breath on the public transit and while you’re out shopping when someone around you coughs or sneezes? What can you do to avoid getting sick?

Wash your hands!

Simply washing your hands can help prevent flu, salmonella (bacteria from raw and undercooked food), hepatitis A, colds, food poisoning, mononucleosis and rotavirus. Hand washing is the number one (and easiest) thing you can do to help protect and prevent you and your family from getting sick.

Let’s review the proper hand washing steps:

1. Wet your hands with water, add soap (preferably anti-bacterial) and rub them together vigorously and thoroughly. Rubbing your hands together after they are wet and soapy gets rid of the germs and bacteria on your skin.
2. Make sure all sides, including the areas between your fingers, are massaged thoroughly with the soap and water mixture. Do this for at least 15 seconds. Be a kid again and sing along to “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” while you do it.
3. After you have finished the previous two steps, rinse your hands off thoroughly with warm water and then dry with a clean towel, paper towel or air dryer. You never know what germs may be lurking on the water faucet handle and bathroom door handle, so it’s always best to use a paper towel to turn off the water flow and to exit the bathroom.

Other Hand Washing Tips:

• Anti-bacterial foam or gel cleansers work well and are acceptable, but soap and water should always be used after using the restroom or when any visible dirt is present.
• It is always okay to ask anyone who is going to have direct contact with your child to wash their hands, especially with newborns. This includes doctors, nurses, relatives and friends.
• Prevent the spread of germs and bacteria by washing your hands, especially after using the restroom. Make sure to always wash up before eating and/or touching your face. By taking these actions, you will help prevent you and your child from illness.

Have dirty restrooms or facilities that could use some cleaning specialist attention? Give us a call at (888) 785-0003 or request an online quote.