You should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and running water to effectively remove germs. Scrubbing your hands for this duration removes more germs than shorter washing times
. A helpful tip to time this is to hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice while washing
. The World Health Organization recommends a complete handwashing procedure lasting 40-60 seconds, which includes thorough rubbing of all hand surfaces and drying
. Proper handwashing involves wetting hands first, applying soap, lathering all surfaces including palms, backs, between fingers, fingertips, thumbs, and wrists, rubbing vigorously for at least 20 seconds, rinsing well, and drying completely with a clean towel or air dryer
. Washing hands for at least 20 seconds is essential before and after key activities such as preparing or eating food, after using the toilet, after coughing or sneezing, and after touching animals or garbage
. Drying hands thoroughly is also important, as wet hands can transmit germs more easily
. In summary, 20 seconds is the minimum recommended time to wash hands effectively, with some guidelines suggesting up to 40-60 seconds for the full procedure including drying
