A complete guide to effective handwashing and hand hygiene

We often hear the words 'handwashing' and 'hand hygiene' used interchangeably in our workplace. But what do they mean, what are the differences, and why are they so important?

Follow our guide as we uncover everything you need to know about handwashing and hand hygiene. From the basics of why washing your hands is important to the most effective techniques and hand hygiene products to use, we've got you covered.

Get ready to become a hand hygiene expert in no time with our top tips and professional advice. 

What is handwashing?

Handwashing is the act of physically washing your hands with soap and clean water to remove dirt, grime, and microorganisms and drying hands with a paper towel. It's one of the most simple and effective ways to protect yourself and your employees from getting sick by reducing the risk of transmitting infectious diseases. Did you know that you can remove 99,98 % of bacteria with a complete handwash with Tork soap, water followed by drying with Tork paper towels.*

Why is handwashing so important?

Your hand carries many germs that can't be seen with the naked eye, which can cause harmful infections (such as diarrhea and pneumonia) when they enter your body. These germs can transfer from person to person or from surfaces to people when you:

Cough and sneeze into your hands and then touch everyday objects or other people's hands.
Come into contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.
Touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with dirty hands. 
Prepare or consume food and drinks with unwashed hands.

By washing hands frequently using the correct handwashing techniques, we can help prevent and reduce the risk of acquiring harmful illnesses such as the flu, food poisoning and healthcare-associated infections (such as MRSA and norovirus).

When should we wash our hands?

Our hands should be washed at the right moments to protect ourselves and the people around us. Different industries, such as healthcare or hospitality, usually have their own adaptation of hand hygiene procedures and policies that should be followed (we'll look at these later in the guide). 

As a rule of thumb, we should wash our hands at the right times throughout the day, including:

Before, during, and after preparing food.
Before and after eating.
Before and after caring for someone sick, especially if they are vomiting or have diarrhea.
Before and after treating a cut or wound.
After using the toilet.
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste.
After handling garbage.
Whenever your hands are visibly dirty.

Your hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and clean water to remove germs effectively and dried with a paper towel. However, in the absence of soap and water, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) to clean your hands. 

What are the five steps to washing your hands properly?

Clean hands can significantly help reduce the spread of harmful germs, whether it's in your home, school or your workplace. 

To wash your hands properly, follow these four simple steps which include:

The initial rinse will remove loose soil and it is easier to spread soap over wet hands than dry.
Scrubbing carefully with soap will release bacteria compared to only water. How long you wash and how you rub the hands will influence the amount of dirt and bacteria that are removed. WHO recommends a procedure for how to do it right so that every part of the hand is cleaned.
Rinsing removes dirt and bacteria along with the soap lather. It is important to rinse thoroughly since it is at this stage that bacteria are actually removed from the skin and because soap residues can cause skin irritation.
Drying removes additional loose debris on the skin which has been loosened by washing. Drying also reduces transfer of bacteria to and from the skin when other surfaces are touched and prevents a humid environment from encouraging the growth and reproduction of bacteria.

The recommended duration for washing hands is at least 20 seconds, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. It's important to thoroughly wash all parts of your hands with water and soap, not neglecting any area of your hands.

What should you do if you don't have access to soap and water to wash your hands?

Washing hands with soap and water is usually the best way to get rid of germs. However, when soap and water are not readily available, you can use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to clean your hands effectively. 

To use hand sanitizer: 

Apply the hand sanitizer to the palm of your hands. Our hand sanitizers are specially formulated for frequent use with no sticky build-up. They're available in sealed refill bottles with a single-use pump for safety and to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Cover all surfaces of the hands, including the back of the hands. 
Rub your hands and fingers together until they are dry for at least 20 seconds.

What are the common handwashing mistakes to avoid?

Your hands are only as clean as how well you wash them. This means going beyond just using soap and water.

If you want to keep germs at bay, here are some common handwashing mistakes you might want to avoid:

Not washing hands for long enough

The recommended duration for washing hands is at least 20 seconds. Rushing through this step means not effectively removing the dirt and germs from your hands, which reduces the impact of handwashing.

Not using (enough) soap

It can be tempting to pump a little bit of the soap, lather, rinse and get out when you're in a hurry, for example, in a public restroom. However, a generous amount of soap should be applied to wet hands to remove dirt, grime and germs effectively from your hands. Not using enough soap or skipping using soap altogether defeats the whole purpose of washing your hands. 

Not washing all parts of the hands

It's essential to wash all parts of your hands thoroughly, including between your fingers, under your nails, and the backs of your hands. Not paying attention to these areas means missing spots, which can leave germs behind.

Touching contaminated surfaces after washing

After washing your hands, it's essential to avoid touching potentially contaminated surfaces, such as doorknobs or faucet handles, as this can transfer germs back onto your hands. 

Using a dirty or contaminated towel to dry hands

Drying hands with a dirty or contaminated towel means undoing the good work of washing your hands. So, remember to use a clean paper towel to ensure that you're drying your hand effectively.

Using Jet Air Dryers

Although Jet Air Dryers are a quicker way to dry your hands, they only serve one person at a time. If a line starts to form in the washroom, this may discourage users to neglect drying their hands, leading to possible cross-contamination.

What is hand hygiene?

Hand hygiene is a broader term that encompasses all measures taken to clean and sanitize hands, including handwashing, using hand sanitizers, and wearing sterile gloves. When performed correctly, hand hygiene reduces microorganisms on hands and contributes to the prevention of infection, improving the safety of everyone around you.

Why is good hand hygiene important?

Practicing good hand hygiene is essential to prevent the spread of illnesses such as the common cold, flu, and gastroenteritis. Many infectious diseases are spread through hand-to-hand contact or contact with contaminated surfaces harboring harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses.

Maintaining good standards of hand hygiene is an easy, affordable, and effective way of stopping germs from spreading and keeping yourself and your employees healthy.

How can we promote good hand hygiene practices in the workplace?

Encouraging your employees to keep their hands clean is important, no matter where they work – whether it's in a classroom, factory, restaurant or office. Clean hands can help keep everyone healthy, including your employees, customers, and the community.

Here are some ways to promote good hand hygiene practices in the workplace:

Provide alcohol-based hand rub and handwashing stations

Ensure that there are enough alcohol hand gels and handwashing stations available in common areas, such as the entrance, break room, and restrooms, to encourage frequent handwashing. Providing clear instructions on how to use them effectively can also help promote good hand hygiene practices. Follow our dispenser placement guide to help boost hand hygiene compliance in your facility. 

Display signs and posters

Display signs and posters reminding employees to wash their hands regularly and properly. This can include posters with handwashing steps and reminders to use alcohol hand gels.

Educate employees

Educate employees on the importance of hand hygiene and how it can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. This includes ensuring they understand when and how to wash their hands properly.

Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces

Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces regularly, including doorknobs, light switches, and keyboards, can help reduce the number of germs and viruses that can spread through hand-to-surface contact.

Hold regular training sessions

Hold regular training sessions on hand hygiene practices to refresh employees' knowledge and emphasize the importance of maintaining good hand hygiene.

By implementing these measures, you can help promote good hand hygiene practices in the workplace, reduce the spread of infections, and create a healthier and safer work environment for everyone.

How can we promote good hand hygiene practices in different workplace settings?

Hand hygiene practices can differ significantly across various industries or settings, depending on factors such as the nature of the work, the level of risk of contamination, and the type of pathogens or contaminants present.

1. Healthcare setting

In the healthcare field, it's important to keep your hands clean to prevent the spread of any healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Patients are often more vulnerable to getting sick, so it's crucial that healthcare workers do everything they can to protect both the patients and themselves.

This means performing hand hygiene regularly, especially before and after coming into contact with patients. Different types of hand hygiene products, such as alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used. The choice of products to use really depends on what your staff is dealing with. Sometimes, they might also need to wear sterile gloves or other personal protective equipment.

According to the WHO, the 5 moments of hand hygiene for healthcare staff are: 

Before touching the patient
Before a clean/aseptic procedure
After body fluid exposure risk
After touching a patient
After touching patient surroundings.

2. Foodservice

When it comes to working in the foodservice industry, keeping your hands clean is an absolute must. This helps prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and foodborne outbreaks while keeping your customers and employees healthy and safe.

To protect against cross-contamination, employees in the food service industry should always wash their hands after: 

Using the restroom.

Leaving and returning to the kitchen and food prep areas.
Taking out the garbage.
Handling cleaning solutions.
Eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum or tobacco.
Handling raw meat, poultry or seafood.
Touching the body or clothing.
Sneezing, coughing, or using a tissue.
Handling money.
Removing gloves before putting on a pair of sterile gloves.

Handwashing and hand hygiene are crucial in preventing the spread of germs and infectious diseases. By following the proper steps of handwashing and making it a regular habit, you can help protect yourself, your visitors and your employees, contributing to a healthier and safer community.

If you'd like to learn more, explore how hand hygiene is applicable for your workplace with the Tork Clean Care Program and discover tools you can use to help improve hand hygiene and surface cleaning in your workplace. 

Reference

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: When and How to Wash Your Hands

** Based on a modified version of industry standard method (EN1499), tested with E.coli. using Tork Mild Soap refill art. 420501 and Tork PeakServe refill art. 100589.