How long should you wash your hands during hand hygiene?

• A. 30 seconds
• B. 10 seconds
• C. 40 seconds
• D. At least 20 seconds

Answer: (D)

Hand hygiene relies on giving enough time for soap to work and for scrubbing to physically remove germs from all hand surfaces. The recommended minimum is at least 20 seconds. This duration allows you to thoroughly cover the palms, backs of the hands, between the fingers, under the nails, and the wrists, while the friction helps lift and rinse away microbes. After scrubbing, rinse completely and dry with a disposable towel, then use the towel to turn off the faucet to avoid recontaminating your hands. A shorter time, like 10 seconds, often isn’t enough to remove most germs, while longer times (30 or 40 seconds) aren’t necessary for standard practice, though they won’t harm.