Cleaning your hands stops the spread of germs, and public facilities should always have sufficient equipment to allow people to wash their hands. If there are no permanent sinks, portable hand wash stations should be supplied. Here are the do’s and don’ts of cleaning your hands properly.

Do:

Use Soap.

Washing with soap and water is better than just water. Rub your hands together to work the soap into a lather, then scrub your hands together. Once you have washed your hands thoroughly, rinse off the soap. You don’t need to rely on antibacterial soap because regular soap is just as effective.

Use Sanitizer if You Need To.

If you can’t get to a sink or a hand wash station, hand sanitizer is a good alternative. Alcohol-based sanitizers are preferable and should contain at least 60 percent alcohol. Check the label on the bottle to find out how much you should apply, then squeeze the gel onto one palm and rub it around both hands.

Encourage Children to Wash Their Hands.

Children often forget to wash their hands, so you should encourage them to do it to protect themselves and prevent the spread of illnesses. Have younger children wash their hands at the same time as you to see how it’s done. Children should always be supervised when using alcohol-based hand sanitizers as swallowing the product is dangerous.

Don’t: 

Wash for Too Short a Time.

Once you have applied soap or hand sanitizer, rub your hands for at least 20 seconds to ensure they are properly clean, then rinse. A useful tip for having children wash their hands properly is to tell them to hum the Happy Birthday song twice before rinsing. 

Forget to Dry.

Drying your hands is an important part of the cleaning process because some bacteria can remain on your skin after washing. Germs are also spread more easily by wet hands. Air driers, towels, and paper towels are all good ways to dry, but you should always make sure the towel you use is clean.

Only Wash Your Palms.

Be sure to rub all parts of your hands several times when washing them. A lot of people only wash their palms, but you should wash the front and backs, as well as around the nails. Interlocking your hands will help to clean between your fingers. Washing the lower part of your wrists is also advisable.

Whether you need portable sanitation during home remodeling or multiple temporary washrooms for a large event, Econ­-O-­Johns in Waterloo, IL, provides quality solutions at fair prices. As a locally-owned and -operated company, they offer hand wash stations, portable toilets, and shower stations to residents in the area. To get a quote, call (618) 939-3001 or visit their website.