When Should You Wash Your Hands?

Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself from getting sick and spreading germs. Clean hands can help you stay healthy.

Know when to wash your hands

• after using the bathroom
• when your hands look dirty
• after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose
• after playing outside
• before eating
• after touching an animal
• after visiting public places where you’ve touched surfaces that others have shared

You can help yourself and those around you stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during key times when you are more likely to get and spread germs.

Throughout the day! Children can wash their hands any time during the day and should wash their hands when the dirt is especially visible. They should wash their hands before doing activities where germs may spread from their hands to their bodies and cause them to become sick.

When is washing your hands too much?

Washing your hands too often or being consumed with needing to wash your hands can be a sign of anxiety, worry, or other mental health struggles. If your skin is becoming irritated, that may be another clue that your hand washing is on overload. Some germs are actually good! (We know, it’s kind of confusing!) You also have healthy oils on your skin that may be stripped away with excessive washing. Please consult with your primary care doctor or child’s pediatrician if you feel like this becomes an issue.

Wash your hands before:

• Touching food to limit the transfer of germs.
• Eating, so germs do not contaminate the food.
• Touching your mouth, nose, or eyes so germs are not transferred to the face.
• Touching a wound or cut, so that germs on the hand do not enter the skin and cause infection.
• Touching an animal that is dirty and may carry germs that can spread.