State of Connecticut Advocates' Corner

Washing Your Hands

Washing your hands helps you:washing hands
  • Stay healthy
  • Avoid a cold or the flu

Remember to wash your hands:

  • Before, during, and after preparing food
  • Before eating food
  • Before and after caring for someone who is sick
  • Before and after treating a cut or wound
  • After using the bathroom, changing diapers, or cleaning up a child who has used the bathroom
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After touching an animal, animal food or treats, animal cages, or animal feces (poop)  
Here is how to wash your hands:
  1. Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
  2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap.
  3. Scrub all surfaces of your hands, including the palms, backs, fingers, between your fingers, and under your nails.  Keep scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.  Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
  4. Rinse your hands under clean, running water.
  5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Remind other people to wash too:
  • You can share these tips with your friends!
  • The more people who wash their hands, the healthier everyone will be!

CDC handwashing infographic explaining why handwashing is important for preventing the spread of germs and showing the five steps for proper handwashing: wet hands, lather with soap, scrub for at least 20 seconds, rinse, and dry.

CDC infographic explaining when to wash your hands, the benefits of using soap, and how handwashing helps prevent illness. It recommends washing before preparing or eating food, after using the bathroom, after coughing or sneezing, after touching animals or garbage, and other key times. The infographic notes that handwashing can help prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related illnesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections such as colds or the flu. src=

CDC - Handwashing Poster

CDC - Hand Sanitizer Fact Sheet

Wash Your Hands Fact Sheet 508

CDC Resources for Handwashing/Clean Hands Videos: