20 hand washing errors that you do
The simple errors you make could spread germs, do not kill them.
With the deadly coronavirus epidemic rudoie, you must protect yourself. The best way is to do it is to wash your hands. You probably assume that you have your hand washing routine pat down. Soap, water, dry. What is so difficult about it? The problem is, you hurt it.
If you want to make sure your hands do not carry germs and sickness, click to play each of these 20 ways you wash your hands badly and to ensure your health and health of others, do not miss theseSigns you have already had coronavirus.
You are for soap reach first
When it comes to washing your hands, you are on a team or the other. Either you wet your first hands or pump the soap in your hands first. Even if you think he's making no difference, theCDCRecommends that you wet your hands first. Your wet skin can absorb soap more easily, which leads to a better disposal to foam and more efficient bacteria.
RX: It can be difficult to break a habit, especially if you have used soap before turning on the tap for years. However, it's time to start putting it in place and get my hands first. This will ensure soap can fumble and do their job.
2 You are not rubbing for long enough
You are not rubbing for long enough
A public toilet is not exactly a warm and welcoming place to spend your time. The unpleasant environment can rush through your handwashing routine. But if you do not go rub enough in your hands, you really are not doing much. Without devoting the right amount of time to soap and washing, the task is useless and is not effective for killing germs or microbes on the surface of your skin.
RX: According toMAYO Clinic, After getting wet and soap your hands, you should pass about 20 seconds soaping. A popular way of keeping a trace of time, you have to go foaming is by singing the song "Happy Birthday". Vigorously rub the hands together throughout the entire song to ensure the soap at the time of the germs of activation and kill.
3 You do not use enough soap
You do not use enough soap
Do not be shy with soap! If you are in a hurry, it may be tempting to grab a small pump of the substance, lather, rinse and exit. However, soap does more than make your hands pleasant odor. According toDr. Aileen Marty®, International University of Florida, "since the surfaces of bacteria and viruses are part of the fat facts, the ingredients in the soap create a chemical reaction that seizes the germs so that they rinse right away with the foam . If you do not use enough soap, you are not giving him the chance to work his magic.
RX: The exact amount of soap, you must use depends on the size of your hands and how they are dirty. Aim for a few pumps of liquid soap and make sure the feeling that the front and back of your hands are covered with sail soap before rinsing.
4 You are not drying
You are not drying
Even the most routine washing hands perfect is useless if you do not dry your hands. According toCDC, "Germs can be transferred more easily and wet hands. If you have to enter the door handle or other objects potentially Germy in the public bathroom with wet hands, you are simply re-contaminating your hands with microbes that you have just done so hard to wash.
RX: Use paper towels, if it is provided in public toilets. Even if you are in a hurry, take the time to make sure your hands have completely dried before leaving the toilet or touching surfaces. Do not touch the surfaces or yourself until your hands have completely dried.
5 You use too much soap
You use too much soap
Soap is an important element of hand washing and is what helps to get germs and bacteria with your hands. However, using a huge amount of soap can also be prejudicial. If you pump too much soap on your hands and not rinse it all properly, it can irritate your skin later during the day.
RX:Use only a few liquid soap pumps for the hands. You must use enough that you can feel a good foam on the surface of your hands, but not as long as your hands feel sticky. If you accidentally use too much soap, take the time to rinse your hands well and make sure all the sudden off. This will prevent irritation from the skin that can occur if soap is left on your skin.
6 You are not enough wash
You are not enough wash
If you are only washing your hands after using public toilets, you are just not doing enough to keep the gentle germs away. You have to wash your hands every time you feel they are dirty or have been exposed to germs.
RX:There are precise moments where you have to wash your hands to prevent the potential spread of germs or illness. TheCDCRecommends hand washing at these key moments:
- Before and after taking care of someone who is sick.
- Before, during and after the preparation or consumption of food.
- Before and after dealing with an injury.
- After changing a layer or helping a child use the toilet.
- After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
- After touching an animal, animal waste, or animal feeds.
- After touching garbage.
If you wash your hands thoroughly in these circumstances, you can more efficiently get rid of microbes and germs that can spread the disease.
7 You neglect your nails
You neglect your nails
Even if you are careful enough to take a set of 20 seconds to foam your hands, your handwashing routine is ineffective if you do not also involve your nails. And the bacteria can sprout easily getting off under your nails and if you touch surfaces, then chew your nails or touch your face, you still distance these germs.
RX: Dr. Marty suggests "to clean under your nails, take your right hand and rub the tip of your fingers on the palm of your left hand and vice versa. Including this movement in your soap soaping process can make sure you eliminate germs that are trapped under your nails.
8 You count on Hand Sanitizer alone
You count on Hand Sanitizer alone
While hand disinfectant can be useful to germs when you do not have the amenities for a full hand wash, you should not rely solely on it to keep you free from germs. According toCDC"Alcohol-based hands disinfectants do not kill all types of germs, such as a bug of the stomach called Norovirus, some difficult parasites and clostridium, which causes severe diarrhea. These disinfectants also can not eliminate harmful chemicals such as pesticides or heavy metals.
RX: Hand-handed disinfectant can be a quick way to eliminate germs before and after visiting a loved one who is sick or if you do not have access to handwashing equipment. However, if your hands are visibly dirty or fat, disinfecting for hands simply not doing the trick. You will need to find water and soap and wash your hands.
9 You skipping the soap completely
You skipping the soap completely
Fast and dry rinsing is simply not effective in removing microbes and bacteria on your hands. Soap raises these microbes of your skin oils and lavish them away. TheCDCAlso encourages the use of soap with each washing of the hands because "people tend to rub more thoroughly when using soap, which sprouts more removed. »
RX: Do not just rinse and go. If there is soap, use in your routine. If soap is not there, you can better use a hand disinfectant that contains at least 60% alcohol to kill germs on your hands.
10 You touch the faucet just after
You touch the faucet just after
A study conducted by theNational Sanitation Foundation (NSF)22 asked families to stamp common household items in their homes. These elements have been tested for many contaminants, including yeasts, molds and coliform bacteria, which is a family of bacteria that includes Salmonella and E. coli. It was concluded that 9% of household faucets contained these harmful bacteria that can cause disease. If you wash your hands, but touching the faucet just after, you can always expose you to these germs.
RX:Most public toilets are equipped with automatic faucets, which avoids you to touch them at all. However, if you are in a bathroom without automatic faucet, pay attention to what you touch after washing hands. If possible, use a clean paper towel to close the faucet after washing.
11 You are not enough rinsing
You are not enough rinsing
Once you have completely fooled and soap did its job, it's just as important to rinse right away. Foaman soap attracts the microbes that were trapped in the oils of your skin. If you do not rinse them with running water, they just stay on your hands. Soap residues can also be an irritant for the skin, which can cause itching or vaporous hands.
RX: Do not just soak your hands in a puddle and suppose you rinsed the soap. TheCDCwarns against "because the hands can recontaminate if rinsed in a stagnant water basin that was contaminated with the previous use, the running water should be used. Carefully rinse and use the friction again to make sure you rinsed the soap of the crevices of your hands.
12 You touch the door handle just after washing
You touch the door handle just after washing
When your hands are clean, grab the door handle to get out of public toilets will not be able to contaminate them again. A study conducted byDr. Lennox Archibald, MD, Ph.D.From the University of Florida has studied contamination of bacteria in public toilets and aircraft toilets. Its results concluded that surfaces, including door handles, were contaminated with Staph, e. Coli and Enterococcus bacteria. These germs can cause diseases that cause diarrhea and other digestive evils.
RX: Use a clean paper towel to open the door after having washed your hands. Do not touch the door handle unnecessarily and try to push it open with your foot instead of your hands, if possible.
13 You choose dry driers on paper towels
You choose dry driers on paper towels
Hand dryers are better for the environment and can leave a smaller carbon footprint than paper towels. Unfortunately, this drying method is simply not as sanitary as paper towels. A systematic review completed by theProcedure of the Mayo ClinicTested both drying methods and found that paper towels can dry hands faster and thoroughly than some hand dryers. The study concluded that paper towels can effectively eliminate bacteria and cause less contamination of the toilet environment. From a hygiene point of view, paper towels are greater than electric air dryers. "
RX: When you have the choice between these drying methods, you are placed in an environmental / hygiene enigma. However, to keep your hands as clean as possible, you have to choose paper towels on the hand dryer. But there is no need to delay it. Only use the amount of paper towels you need to completely dry your hands.
14 You only use hot water
You only use hot water
The secular myth is that hot hot water is the only way to clean your hands of bacteria. However, for hot water to be effective for killing bacteria, it would be necessary 104 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit. It's far too hot for your skin to yours! According toAmanda R. CarricoFrom Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and Envy, "It is certainly true that the heat kills the bacterium, but if you were going to use hot water to kill them, it should be too hot so that you can tolerate."
RX: Cold water can be as effective as hot water to eliminate the microbes of your hands, as long as you follow the correct hand washing protocol. Use enough soap, flush completely, rinse well and dry your hands completely and you will be clean, even with cold water.
15 You do not clean your soap bar
You do not clean your soap bar
If you wash your hands at home, you can use a soap bar next to your sink. Bacteria love humid and warm surfaces, your soap can attract microbes that hangs away onto the bar surface. If you follow suitable hand washing procedures, these bacteria probably do not change on your hands. However, keeping your own soap bar can guarantee you that you will not have to worry about the germs of your soap dish.
RX: It's simple enough to keep your soap bar clean.Elaine L. Larson, PhdFrom the Columbia Nurse School of the University suggests: "Rinse the bar with running water before washing germination GOOP. And always store soap out of the water (not in a wet bath) , which allows it to dry between uses. Way, there is no wet environment for germs to flock first. "
16 You think the antibacterial is better
You think the antibacterial is better
We hate burst from your bubble but that "antibacterial" soaps could be a simulacrum. After many studies, theCDCconcluded "there are no health benefits added for consumers (this does not include health adjustment professionals) using soaps containing antibacterial ingredients compared to use Simple soap. "
As a result, theAdministration of food and medicine (FDA)Emitted a decision in September 2016 that 19 ingredients used in "antibacterial" soaps are just as effective as soap and non-antibacterial water. These products are no longer allowed to be marketed to the public as "antibacterial" and some of these ingredients may even make our antibiotic resistant bodies.
RX: Although fashionable words like "antibacterial" are tempting, the regular soap works just well. As long as you take the time to follow the proper hand washing protocol with fresh running water and soap, you eliminate the bacteria from your hands.
17 You neglect the back of your hands
You neglect the back of your hands
According toCDC, "Lathering and friction hands create frictions, helping to eliminate dirt, grease and germs of your skin." When you are in the act of vigorous rubbing your palms together, it is important not to miss other parts of your hands. The back of your hands also exposed to germs, so make sure you do not neglect them in your washing routine.
RX:It's easy to get stuck in a hand washing routine that includes bad habits like forgotting the back of your hands. Reorganize your hand wash technique to make sure you include this area in your 20-second friction.
18 You do not wash your hand towels quite often
You do not wash your hand towels quite often
When you wash your hands at home, in the kitchen or bathroom, it's important to finish your routine with a clean and dry towel. Bacteria grow and reproduce in hot and humid places. Towels that are still a little wet or have not been well washed in a moment are large areas to live in bacteria.
A study published inFood protection trendsAnalyzed bacteria on 82 household kitchen towels. The study concluded that "coliform bacteria were detected in 89% and E. coli in 25.6% of towels. The presence of E. coli was linked to the washing frequency".
RX: Wash your kitchen and your bathroom often and try not to let them stay wet.Charles GerbaFrom Arizona University suggest: "People should wash all towels after about two days of use." Since bacteria can sometimes survive a wash with regular detergent, it suggests using hot water and a product containing oxygen-activated bleach when washing towels.
19 You do not wash at all
You do not wash at all
If you completely skip handwash, you could broadcast harmful bacteria to yourself and others. According toCDC, "Keeping your own hands is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spread germs to people around you. Many diseases and conditions are disseminated by not cleaning hands properly. "
RX:Not only should you wash your hands every time you use the toilet, you must also wash before and after the handling or consumption of food and at any time with open wounds. After the appropriate hand washing protocol, you can keep your friends and family members with the safety of microbes, germs and bacteria that can be found on your hands.
20 You wash me too much
You wash me too much
It is important to keep your hands clean so that you can prevent the disease and propagation of germs. But it is possible to wash your hands too much. If you have obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD) or suffering from anxiety, you can feel the need to constantly wash your hands, even if you do not wash them and you have done nothing to contaminate them. According toFrancine Rosenberg, Psy.d.From Nova South South Southestern University, "Those who have hand washing compulsions are obsessed with the fear of contamination and often wash their hands repeatedly until they are tasted, raw and sometimes even bleeding . " Ouch!
RX: If you feel obsessed with the washing of the hands and that you constantly feel the desire to grab the soap, even if you know that your hands are clean, you can have an OCD or anxiety. It is important to speak with a counselor or therapist as soon as possible to work through problems that can cause this washing of obsessive hand. Treatment and medications may be available to help you cross this disorder and cross this pandemic at your healthier, do not miss these37 places you are most likely to catch coronavirus.