The pandemic is spreading all over the world like wildfire and everyone is trying their best to avoid contracting it. From adhering to the lockdown and maintaining social distancing to following strict levels of personal hygiene -- everyone’s doing their bit to fight this pandemic.
Speaking about hygiene, credible sources like the WHO and CDC claim that the simple act of washing your hands for 20 seconds can prevent the deadly infection from entering your bodies. Therefore, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to thoroughly wash your hands in order to keep any infections at bay.
- Step 01: Wet your hands
- Step 02: Lather some soap
- Step 03: Wash your hand thoroughly
- Step 04: Time matters
- Step 05: Rinse it off
- Step 06: Dry your hands
- Step 07: Moisturise
Step 01: Wet your hands
Always start by thoroughly wetting your hands by placing them under running water. The temperature of the water can be either cold or warm, depending on your preference as research claims that the water temperature does not matter.
Step 02: Lather some soap
But before you dispense some soap onto your hands, always turn off the tap (water conservation, duh). It is important to note that you must always wash your hands with soap and water as opposed to just water because the surfactants in soap are really effective against lifting and successfully eliminating the microbes from your skin. We recommend you use a moisturising hand wash such as the Dove Nourishing Shea Butter & Warm Vanilla Hand Wash to prevent the skin on your hands from turning dry due to excessive washing.
Step 03: Wash your hand thoroughly
To successfully clean your hands, you need to wash your hands mindfully. What this means is that you need to clean each and every part of your hand. Rub in between your fingers, under your nails, the back of your hands, palms, as well as, your wrists and forearms. This action will help to lift away any sort of dirt, impurities and microbes from your skin, making them clean and safe.
Step 04: Time matters
Simply scrubbing your hands for the sake of it isn’t really going to be helpful. In order to thoroughly clean your hands of dirt and microbes, it is important to continue scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds.
Step 05: Rinse it off
Now that your soap and scrubbing has successfully lifted all the dirt, grime and microbes from the skin, it is time to actually remove them from your hands by rinsing off the soap. To do so, start by opening the tap with your elbow and not your hands, as you don’t want any transfer of germs. Simply rinse away all the soap and turn off the tap.
Step 06: Dry your hands
Your handwashing doesn’t end at rinsing; it is also extremely important to dry your hands thoroughly using a clean and dry towel. You could even use a clean paper towel if you don’t have access to a clean cloth-based one. This is because germs transfer more easily from and onto wet surfaces, hence leaving your hands wet makes you more susceptible to contracting an infection. Hence, dry your hands thoroughly before you go on to touch anything else.
Step 07: Moisturise
Excessive washing can definitely make your hands feel extremely dry and parched. Therefore, after drying your hands, apply a generous amount of the Vaseline Intensive Care Healthy Hand Stronger Nails Hand Cream all over your hands and nails to keep them supple and nourished. According to the CDC and WHO, you should be washing your hands in the above manner every time you do any of the following things:
- Before, while and after you’re done preparing food
- Before and after eating After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- After you’ve touched or handled an animal or animal waste
- After touching any sort of door handles, elevator buttons, and things that you buy
- After you’ve come in contact with any person who is sick
Written by Urvi Dalal on Apr 07, 2020
Writer, avid reader and hardcore beauty enthusiast is the best way to describe Urvi Dalal. With over 5 years of writing experience in the beauty industry, you can trust her to have the latest skin, hair and makeup tidbits on her fingertips. In her time working as a beauty writer, she has had the opportunity to interact and work closely with a string of dermatologists, makeup artists and hairstylists. All that knowledge exchange, coupled with her flair and love for writing make it possible for her to bring you some authentic yet fun beauty content. When Urvi isn’t working, you’d usually catch her curled up with a big, fat book, drinking a cup of tea or practising her makeup skills; there is no in-between!