Schools may be out for summer, but this is no time to relax your handwashing habits. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.
Everything you need to know about handwashing you probably learned in preschool. But, if you forgot, here’s a reminder of the steps for washing your hands:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
- Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Summer Reading List Enhance your summer handwashing lessons with free educational materials from the American Cleaning Institute. Click the links to download these resources:
 |
  |
  |
|
Clean Hands at the Beach Use the word search activity on your next road trip to reinforce handwashing! |
Have U Washed Your Hands 2Day? Check your handwashing IQ with the quiz in this colorful brochure. English or Spanish |
Handwashing Bookmark Stick one of these bookmarks in your beach time reading materials. English or Spanish |
You can also order ACI publications online. View the Publication Catalog for a complete list and links to the online ordering. Check our site frequently for new and updated publications. Contact us at (202) 347-2900 for special requests or bulk orders.