How Often Should you Wash your Hands?

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CLEVELAND - October 15 is Global Handwashing Day, which is held every year to raise awareness about the importance of washing your hands.

“It's so important to regularly wash your hands because handwashing reduces the spread of germs and germs in turn can make us sick,” said Neha Vyas, MD, family medicine physician for Cleveland Clinic. “Given that we are coming into the cold and flu season, it's especially important to recognize the value of hand washing.”

Dr. Vyas said there’s no set rule for how many times a day a person should wash their hands, it really depends on what they’re doing.

However, it’s recommended to wash your hands before and after eating, after using the bathroom, or changing a diaper, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

It’s also a good idea to wash up if you’ve touched garbage or been out in public.

And while it may seem like common sense, Dr. Vyas said you should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.

It’s okay to use either cold or hot water.

Then after you’re done, be sure to dry them with a clean towel.

She notes it’s easier to transmit germs with wet hands.

“If you're one of those whose skin gets really dry, it's really important that after you wash and dry your hands, you apply a lotion or a cream or an ointment,” said Dr. Vyas. “That recreates the skin surface so that you don't have the little micro abrasions or the micro cuts, which could potentially introduce more bacteria in your skin.”

Besides regularly washing your hands, she also suggests keeping high touch areas in your home clean, and getting vaccinated for the flu, COVID-19 and RSV, if eligible.