My WEDC

eNote 2: Handwashing with soap

Author(s): Reed, Bob (ed)  |  Shaw, Rod (ed)  |  Chatterton, Ken (ill)

Why promote handwashing with soap?

Hands transport diseases from person to person either directly, or indirectly across surfaces. Hands that have been in contact with faeces, nasal excretions and other bodily fluids, and not then washed thoroughly with soap, can carry viruses, bacteria and other parasites. They also carry pathogens from contaminated sources such as animal or bird faeces, contaminated foods, or from domestic or wild animals to new susceptible hosts. Handwashing is especially important where people congregate – such as at school – where harmful organisms are more easily transmitted.

In many countries, the biggest killers of young children are respiratory infections and diarrhoeal disease. Both can be prevented by handwashing. Many reviews report a significant reduction in the risk of diarrhoea as a result of handwashing with soap.

Why use soap?

Grease and dirt contain the largest concentrations of microbes. The chemical nature of soap, and the friction resulting from using it, breaks down the grease and dirt, and harmful organisms are washed away as the hands are rinsed with water.

Handwashing practice

Hands should be washed with soap and under water for at least 20 seconds. Special attention needs to be paid to germs that may be trapped under nails and in crevices.

All traces of soap should be removed with water and the hands should be dried, or allowed to dry, after cleansing and before coming into contact with anything else.

Handwashing steps

The steps involved in washing hands thoroughly are illustrated below. The red arrows show the direction of movement of the hands.  

Related resource

Poster 6: Guidelines for handwashing with soap

Keywords: Behaviour change  |  Hand washing  |  Soap

« Return to eNote collection