Connect with us

Beauty

How To Keep Your Hands Clean And Germ-Free

Published

on

It may seem obvious that you just use soap and water to keep your hands clean and free from germs, but it can be much more complicated than you think. Teaching your children when they need to wash is just another part of growing up, but over the years many of us start to forget that it is more important than ever. The last thing you want is a stomach bug or other illness.

Cleaning products

There are many different hand cleaning products on the market as can be seen on the Brosch Direct website. From soaps to sanitisers or anti-bacterial hand washes, the choice is endless, but they are all necessary. If you’re working with food or in a shop, it is sometimes easier to wear protective gloves. These are vital in some professions such as in the medical sector and form a vital part of the hand washing ritual. Systematic cleansing as used by surgeons halts the spread of germs and all should employ a modified version of this practice.

Why should we wash our hands?

An article in the Telegraph explains the dangers of not washing your hands, including the spread of germs from dirty surfaces or even from mobile phones and computer keyboards. Some of the bacteria that can be picked up from these surfaces can cause serious or even life threatening illnesses; flu, impetigo and food poisoning are just a few of them. Even if you do wash your hands it is important that you carry out the procedure properly. Drying your hands afterwards is also important.

In sickness and in health

If you are ill or nursing someone, then extra care should be taken with hand hygiene. If possible you can wear sterile gloves, but an anti-bacterial hand wash is effective. Wash your hands after blowing your nose or visiting the sick room. Also, it’s vital that you always wash your hands after washing any bedding that’s been used by the ill.

Simple techniques for hand washing

The Great Ormond Street website has a guide on how to wash your hands and hand hygiene in various situations. Many people just simply rinse their hands under a tap, but you need to use hot water and good soap, otherwise you’ll just end up spreading more germs. There are some simple steps to take when hand cleaning is necessary. You should start by making sure that you have some hot water and soap and then lather well and rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds scrubbing all parts. Make sure that you rinse your hands well after lathering.

Animals spread germs

The family pet is a loyal and loved friend but your fluffy cat or dog is also a great home for germs. Always wash your hands after stroking your pet. Animals carry fleas and ticks; they play in areas visited by rats and other rodents, which makes them an ideal home for germs. You should also teach your children to always wash their hands after playing with animals.