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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | Next >> "What that does is [help] disperse the soap over the hands' surface," Patrick said. "If you put the soap in your hands and then wet them, you lose a lot of the soap to the running water."
Then rub your hands together vigorously for at least 15 to 30 seconds, scrubbing all surfaces of the hands and fingers, Weida said. That friction is key because it dislodges all the germs -- bacteria and viruses -- from the skin surface.
"To do a thorough job, when you're standing in front of a sink, it can seem interminable," Patrick said. "Singing through at a reasonable pace either 'Happy Birthday' or 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat' twice will help you get through it."
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Afterward, rinse your hands briskly in running water to remove the suds -- and with them, the germs. "Make sure you rinse thoroughly to get all the soap off because soaps can be drying to your skin," Patrick said.
Blot your hands dry with a couple of paper towels to finish the job. "Ideally, use the damp towels to then turn the faucet off," Weida said.
You might also consider using the paper towels to open the door on your way out of the restroom, too, Patrick said.
"How many times have you been in a stall and there's a toilet flush and the next sound you hear is the person leaving, with no stop at the bathroom sink?" she said.
Weida and Patrick differ on whether your soap should be antibacterial or not.
Although regular soap will do the job, Weida prefers antibacterial soap. "I don't have any studies showing one way or the other," he said, "but I tend to lean toward antibacterial."
But Patrick is concerned that antibacterial soaps can be harsh on the skin, particularly if people wash their hands as often as they should. "If you are washing your hands thoroughly, regular soap is great," she said.
Both agree that if your hands are visibly clean, and you just want to make sure that you're not transmitting germs, then an alcohol-based disinfectant gel will work just as well as soap and water.
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