Guidance

Best practice: how to hand wash

Updated 18 December 2025

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Steps 3 to 9 should take at least 15 seconds each.

  1. Wet hands with water
  2. Apply enough soap to cover all surfaces of hands
  3. Rub hands palm to palm
  4. Right palm over the back of the other hand with interlaced fingers and vice versa
  5. Palm to palm with fingers interlaced
  6. Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked
  7. Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped in right palm and vice versa
  8. Rotational rubbing, backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa
  9. Rub wrists for both hands
  10. Rinse hands with water
  11. Dry thoroughly with towel
  12. Use elbow to turn off tap
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