A person wearing a peach coloured top, seated on a blue coloured chair.

HOW TO WASH YOUR HANDS PROPERLY

When and how often do you need to wash your hands? Discover our step-by-step instructions on how to wash hands properly and learn why it is so important to keep them clean.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS: HOW TO WASH HANDS PROPERLY AND PREVENT INFECTIONS

If you believe washing your hands is the easiest thing in the world, think again. In fact, germs can only be removed if you wash your hands thoroughly.

Washing hands properly: 7 steps to clean hands

A person washing their hands with water in a sink.

1. Wet your hands

Hold hands under running water and rince them properly. Lukewarm water is ideal. If the water is too hot, it can damage delicate skin and cause dryness.

View of a person washing their hands with foaming soap in a sink.

2. Lather up

Rub soap on damp hands until you see foam and get a lather going. Using too much soap does not harm our hands, but it does not make them cleaner either.

3. Soap your hands correctly

Rub your soapy hands thoroughly, in circular movements and with light pressure: between the fingers, on the fingertips, on the nails and palms. Take at least 20 to 30 seconds to soap and scrub your hands. This will carefully remove germs and bacteria.

4. Clean between the fingers

Take special care to wash the area between your fingers. To do this, hook both hands together and move the fingers back and forth. Remember to rub your thumbs as well.

5. Rinse thoroughly

Rinse the foam completely off your hands.

View of a person patting their hands dry with a soft white towelette.

6. Dry off carefully

Dry your hands with a soft towel. Do not rub, but dab so as not to irritate the delicate skin. Remember to also change the towel regularly (e.g. at least once a week in a one-person household).

View of three NIVEA hand cream products resting on a countertop.

7. Apply hand cream

Ideally, you should cream your hands after every wash, as washing strips the natural oils in your skin, causing it to dry out.

PROPER HAND WASHING AND CARE: TIPS FOR SOAPS AND CREAMS

To prevent skin from drying out as a result of washing, it is essential to choose the right soap and rich cream to follow-up with.

How do you find the right soap and hand cream?

Classic soap bar or liquid soap?

When it comes to your skin, it does not matter whether you use liquid soap or a bar of soap. However, choosing a caring soap for your hands will leave them feeling clean and soft every time.

Which hand cream suits you best?

Depending on how often you wash your hands, e.g. for professional reasons, and how dry your hands are, some creams work better than others:

A hand cream enriched with Shea Butter will replenish the skin’s moisture barrier and soften dry hands.

A nourishing hand cream infused with Almond Oil can provide intensive care and deep nourishment to dry hands.

A rich cream formulated with Provitamin B5 and Panthenol can help your dry hands and provide long-lasting relief from extra dry, chapped and tight skin.

An anti-age hand cream enriched with Q10 can help reduce the look of skin aging on the hands by reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

FIND THE RIGHT HAND CREAM

Why is it so important to apply cream after washing your hands?

With every wash, you not only remove dirt but natural skin oils as well. Therefore, it is important to use mild soaps and apply a hand cream after each wash. In this way, you keep your hands smooth.

WHY PROPER HAND WASHING IS SO IMPORTANT

Everyone knows: washing hands is a must. But why? And how often should your hands be washed?

The right hand hygiene protects us

Our hands are in use and in contact all day long with other people and with objects. Whether we are holding handrails on the subway, typing on our phones or blowing our nose with a handkerchief, bacteria and germs are left behind by touching surfaces with our hands.

By washing our hands regularly and properly, we get rid of potential germs. This is important for our health, because almost 80 percent of all illnesses are transmitted via the hands — especially gastrointestinal infections, conjunctivitis and flu.

In addition, bacteria and dirt can get from the hands to the skin on the face and cause pimples.

However, washing your hands too often strains the skin and dries it out. That is why you should apply cream to your hands after every wash.

You should wash your hands when you …

...come home.
...go to the bathroom.
...sneeze or blow your nose.
...have contact with sick people.
...pet animals.
...touch animal food.
...take out the garbage.
...put on make-up.
...come into contact with food, for instance before and after cooking. This is especially important if you touch raw meat or raw fish.
...work in the garden.

View of an adult kissing the cheek of a toddler.

Twice the fun: Washing hands together

Have more fun by washing your hands together

Get your children into the habit of washing their hands regularly and properly as early as possible — this will quickly make it child's play. Plus, washing in twos is much more fun for kids!