There's a procedure you and your children can do in about 15 seconds — one that requires no special equipment and minimal training. Yet it's powerful enough to get rid of even tough germs. The procedure is hand washing, and it calls only for soap, water — and a little patience.

Despite the demonstrated health benefits of hand washing, many people just don't do it enough. You can probably confirm this by simply observing at random how many people exit public restrooms without washing their hands.

Why is it important?

Germs accumulate on your hands as you perform daily activities. By not washing your hands you can acquire or pass on a host of ailments, from the common cold to more serious diseases like dysentery (an intestinal infection) or even hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).

Most cases of diarrhea and vomiting are caused by germs acquired through inadequate hand washing. Pneumonia and influenza, the sixth leading causes of death in the United States, can be acquired the same way.

What's proper hand washing?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers these instructions for proper hand washing:

* Use soap and running water.
* Rub your hands vigorously as you wash them.
* Wash all surfaces, including backs of hands, wrists, between fingers and under fingernails.
* Rinse well and leave the water running until after drying hands.
* Dry hands with a single-use towel.
* Turn off faucet using a paper towel.

When should you wash?

Although it’s impossible to keep your bare hands germ-free, there are times when it’s critical to wash your hands.

Always wash:
* Before eating
* After using the bathroom
* After changing diapers — wash your child's hands too
* Before and after handling raw meat, poultry or fish
* After touching animals
* After handling money
* After blowing your nose
* After coughing or sneezing on your hands
* Before and after treating wounds or cuts
* Before and after touching a sick or injured person
* After handling garbage

Get your children into the habit

Teach by example. Wash your hands with your children and supervise their hand washing. Place hand washing reminders at children's eye level by the bathroom sink. Make it fun:
* Post a chart by the sink to let your children mark every time they wash their hands.
* Set goals for the number of times your children are to wash their hands daily.
* Offer a reward when your children meet the goal for several days in a row.

If your hands get dry from all the washing, use a moisturizing lotion.

Screen child-care providers

To protect your child's health, choose a child-care provider who practices sound hygiene, including frequent hand washing.

"The single best thing child-care centers can do to prevent infections is to have sinks that are low enough for children to use," says Jay Hoecker, M.D., a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. "Most sinks are pretty difficult for toddlers and preschoolers to use. At home or at child care, put a stool underneath the sink so that children can reach it."

Dr. Hoecker recommends choosing a child-care provider that requires children to wash their hands several times each day — not just before meals. Note whether diapering areas are cleaned after each use and whether eating and diapering areas are well separated.

Toys are another important part of the hygiene picture. Look for child-care centers where plastic toys are washed at least daily and stuffed toys are washed weekly.

Antibacterial products

Do antibacterial products — hand and dishwashing soaps, sponges, bed linens, toys, toothpastes — offer greater protection against germ-related illnesses? Not necessarily.

Viruses, not bacteria, cause colds and flu, and most antibacterial products don’t kill viruses. Nor do they always kill disease-causing fungi and parasites.

In any case, your best bet for protection is vigorous hand washing. Soap — antibacterial or not — works by suspending germs in water so that they can be rinsed off.

Antibacterial soaps may offer greater protection than regular soaps if you have an open cut or sore on your hand that could become infected or if you are immune deficient.

For household cleaning in the kitchen and bathroom, ordinary cleaners — ammonia, bleach, chlorine — kill germs as effectively as more expensive antibacterial products.

Hand sanitizers

Hand sanitizers — cleansers that don't require water — are a good alternative when soap and water aren’t available. When rubbed into hands for approximately 15 seconds, hand sanitizers kill approximately 99.9 percent of germs. Be careful, however. Because they are typically made of about 60 percent ethyl alcohol and often contain perfumes, they can dry out and irritate sensitive skin. And they don’t effectively clean dirt or grime buildup. They’re also flammable and can cause death if consumed by a small child.

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December 24, 2001 © 1998-2003 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved.  A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "Mayo Clinic Health Information," "Reliable information for a healthier life" and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.