Handwashing Method
Handwashing Method - Related Videos
09:02
A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens
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Cited by 9 •
2017
Handwashing is widely recommended to prevent infectious disease transmission. However, there is little evidence on which handwashing methods are most efficacious at removing infectious disease pathogens. We developed a method to assess the efficacy of handwashing methods at removing microorganisms.
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Handwashing I: Introduction and Types of Equipment
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2023
Handwashing is hand hygiene with plain or antimicrobial soap and water to physically remove dirt, organic material, and microorganisms. However, it may not kill all microorganisms. The handwashing procedure requires a hand wash basin, liquid soap, paper towels, a domestic waste bin, and disposable nail cleaner as optional equipment. Hand wash basins in clinical areas should have faucets that can be turned on and off without using the hands; that is, they should be non-touch or lever-operated.
01:19
Handwashing II: Pre-procedure and Initial Procedure Steps
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2023
The pre-procedure steps of handwashing include removing jewelry and rolling up sleeves. However, many organizations allow staff to wear wedding rings. The hand washing procedure itself includes the following steps. First, cover cuts, if any, on hands with a waterproof dressing. Cuts and abrasions can become contaminated with bacteria hindering the ability to clean the area thoroughly. In addition, repeated hand washing can worsen an injury. The nails must be short and clean, without nail paint...
01:15
Handwashing III: During the Procedure and Post-Procedure Steps
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2023
To wash hands properly, follow these steps: Wet the hands. Use enough soap to cover all surfaces of the hands. Rub both hands palm to palm. Rub the back of the hand: Use the right palm over the left dorsum or back of the left hand with interlaced fingers, then switch hands. Rub palm to palm with fingers interlaced. With fingers interlocked, rub the backs of the fingers of the opposite hands. Rub the left thumb clasped in the right palm in a circular motion and repeat with the other...
01:29
Methods of Sterilization I: Physical Methods
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2025
As used in a healthcare facility, sterilization destroys all microorganisms through physical or chemical methods. The physical method includes steam, dry heat, boiling water, and radiation. Steam sterilization uses non-toxic, low-cost moist heat in the form of saturated steam under pressure, which is fast, microbicidal, and sporicidal, and quickly warms and penetrates fabrics. Autoclaves, or steam sterilizers, expose each item to direct steam contact for a predetermined time at the necessary...
FAQs
Soap helps loosen soil, microorganisms, and potentially harmful contaminants from the skin, while friction mechanically dislodges them. This action is especially important across textured or closely spaced areas where contaminants may remain attached. Running water then rinses away the loosened material, so applying soap without rubbing each hand surface would provide less complete cleaning.
These locations can be missed when cleaning focuses only on the palms. Deliberately rubbing the backs of the hands, spaces between fingers, thumbs, fingertips, and areas under the nails extends contact with soap and friction to the full hand surface. More complete coverage reduces residual contamination that could otherwise transfer to patients, equipment, or clinical surfaces.
Handwashing with soap and water is particularly relevant when hands are visibly soiled because it combines loosening, friction, rinsing, and drying. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers complement rather than replace this method in the described context. Together, these approaches support hand hygiene by addressing routine contamination control while recognizing that visible soil requires washing.
An effective sequence moves from wetting the hands to applying soap, rubbing all relevant surfaces, rinsing with running water, and drying thoroughly. Each stage contributes a different function: water prepares the skin, soap and friction loosen contaminants, rinsing removes them, and drying helps limit residual contamination and subsequent transfer during patient care.
Drying is not merely a final comfort step. After rinsing, thorough drying further reduces residual contamination and helps limit the transfer of remaining material to patients, equipment, and surfaces. In clinical environments, this final stage supports the overall cleaning process by reducing the chance that incompletely dried hands will undermine otherwise careful washing.
The method is important whenever hand contamination could affect patient care, equipment, or surrounding clinical surfaces. Its primary value is infection prevention: careful cleaning supports safer care and helps limit healthcare-associated infections. It also functions alongside alcohol-based hand sanitizers, allowing clinical hand hygiene to address visibly soiled hands through soap, water, friction, rinsing, and drying.