There’s a lot to be said for the simple act of washing your hands.

Consistent handwashing can help prevent some miserable infections — and for those with weakened immune systems, even life-threatening ones. It can help wash viruses that cause diarrhea and respiratory illness down the drain, reducing the number of people sick with colds in a community by up to 21%.

Each year on May 5, World Hand Hygiene Day serves as a global reminder of just how powerful this simple habit can be.  It’s an opportunity to pause, refocus, and recommit to one of the most effective ways we protect ourselves, our families, and our communities.

“Hand hygiene is the simplest and most effective way to prevent the spread of infection,” said Cammy Hines, AVP of infection control and prevention at Endeavor Health. “Every time you clean your hands, you’re protecting not just yourself, but everyone around you.”

Keeping our hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. It’s the first line of defense and has an amazing return on investment for a task that takes about 30 seconds.

Parents of younger children know the feeling of dread when a child comes home from school with the sniffles or wakes up with a sore throat or cough. All too often, a child’s viral infection makes its way to everyone in the household. Making handwashing a priority will not eliminate that risk completely but will go a long way toward preventing the spread of illness.

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How often should you wash your hands?

Make regular handwashing a rule for everyone in the family. Encourage kids to wash their hands regularly, especially:

  • Before eating
  • After using the bathroom
  • After blowing their nose, coughing or sneezing
  • After being outside
  • After touching animals, including family pets
  • After visiting sick friends or relatives

What’s the best way to wash your hands?

There is a technique for proper handwashing. Using soap and water is most effective at removing germs to prevent infections. Follow these four handwashing principles:

  1. Wet your hands with clean, running water.
  2. Apply soap and rub your hands together vigorously to make a lather. Be sure to get between your fingers and under your nails.
  3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
  4. Rinse your hands well and dry with a clean towel or air dry.

Why 20 seconds?

Studies have found that washing with soap and (preferably warm) water for 20 seconds is the optimal length of time needed to clean germs from our hands. It doesn’t sound like much of a time commitment.

But when you’re washing your hands, 20 seconds can somehow feel longer than you expected, especially for kids. Singing a song, like the ABCs or Happy Birthday two times, can help kids focus on something while they’re washing and ensure they scrub long enough.

If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol to clean hands. Using alcohol-based hand sanitizers or even rinsing hands under running water without soap will not eliminate all types of germs, but it’s better than nothing until you can get to soap and water.

In that case, avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth, which is a common way viral particles spread.

Making a habit of washing your hands could help you stay well and save you (and those around you) the discomfort, time and expense of illness.

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