Why Washing Your Hands is So Important

Hand hygiene plays an important role in fighting infectious diseases and also ensures that we absorb less dirty, unhealthy substances from our environment.

Numerous studies and studies have shown that washing hands thoroughly with soap is the best way to prevent the spread of disease. Good hand hygiene is therefore the best way to keep yourself and others healthy. The flu virus, for example, spreads through the air through sneezing and coughing. It is estimated that unwashed hands are responsible for about 80 percent of influenza infections.

In this Page

-Bacteria

-Breeding grounds for bacteria

-Why wash hands?

-Wash hands

-How should you wash your hands?

-Wash corona and hands

-Hand gel or soap

Bacteria-

The biggest causes of disease are of course bacteria. It is important to remember that all items used together are potential risks. These are objects that are used on a daily basis. The best-known example is the toilet. Many people see this as the place with the most bacteria, but often incorrectly. There are objects that contain many times more bacteria than a well-maintained toilet that is cleaned regularly. Door handles contain a lot of bacteria and should be cleaned regularly. When you exit the toilet, take a paper towel to open the door.

Breeding grounds for bacteria-

Other places where bacteria are present in large numbers are devices that are operated by means of keys: keyboards, remote controls, controllers, ATMs, parking machines, vending machines and so on. Think about this when you take your seat behind your computer again! Furthermore, taps and soap dispensers. People often do not think about these attributes. Taps and soap dispensers should only be touched before washing hands. It is best to turn off the tap with a paper folding towel. If these are not available, try to close the tap with the top of your hand so that your hand has as little contact with the tap as possible. Notes and coins are also known as breeding grounds for bacteria. You have seen money put into his mouth. Definitely don't do this! Coins and notes pass through many hands, collecting bacteria and germs everywhere. It often happens that people who interact with each other on a daily basis become ill during the same period. The reason for this is often a dirty cloth, doorknob or frequent contact without having washed your hands properly. The kitchen sponge also has a very bad reputation and for good reason. A sponge absorbs all dirt and grime, this is of course also the function of a scouring sponge. It is important that you take a new scourer every day. The dirty one can be washed at 90 degrees in the washing machine. The objects mentioned are the main breeding grounds that one should pay attention to, but of course there are many more: plush animals, your bed linen, bathrobes and even your slippers.

Why wash hands?

Hands that are not washed properly can spread illnesses such as colds, flu, stomach and intestinal infections (diarrhea), as well as more serious infections such as pneumonia (pneumonia) and jaundice (hepatitis A) and the corona virus. Especially with small children you have to watch out. They often put their fingers in their mouths and like to eat with their hands. Washing your hands more often is therefore a big step forward for everyone.

Wash hands-

It is important to wash your hands regularly and correctly. This can prevent contamination with bacteria and viruses, and therefore possible disease.

Throughout the day you come into contact with bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. There are therefore always bacteria and viruses on the hands. By touching food, bacteria can get on the food. Bacteria and viruses can be transferred from one foodstuff to another via the hands. They can end up on dishes, cutlery, countertops, refrigerator door or stove knobs.

How should you wash your hands?

The best way to wash your hands is:

-Wash your hands under running water.

-Use liquid soap for this.

-Rub the soap all over the hand, including between the fingers and under the nails (see the figure below).

-Rinse your hands well.

-Dry your hands on a dry, clean towel or disposable paper towel.

When to wash hands-

It is recommended to wash your hands:

-for preparing food

-before dinner

-after contact with raw meat, fish and poultry

-after contact with raw vegetables

-after contact with raw eggs, for example when breaking eggs

-after coughing or sneezing, especially when cooking

-after using the toilet

-after contact with the waste bin

-after contact with (pets) animals

-after contact with dirty textiles

-after changing the baby

Wash corona and hands-

Japanese researchers found evidence in October that hand washing works to fight the coronavirus. According to the researchers, the coronavirus survives on people's skin five times longer than a flu virus. The corona virus survives on human skin for nine hours, a flu virus for 1.8 hours. This means that the risk of transmitting corona via contact is much greater than the risk of transmitting the flu virus, say the Japanese researchers.

Hand gel or soap-

They examined the survival time on the skin of people who had recently died. Both the coronavirus and the flu virus are shut down within 15 seconds if ethanol, which is contained in hand gels, is used. The chance of the virus spreading increases if the virus lives on the skin for a long time, the researchers said. Hand hygiene can reduce that risk.