Coronavirus: How to wash your hands

How to wash your hands

A picture of a bottle  of hand sanitiser, a pair of soapy hands and a stopwatch showing 20 seconds

Help stop the spread of coronavirus by washing your hands properly

This guide shows you the best way to wash your hands.

a pair of hands washing under a running tap

1. Turn on the taps and wet your hands.

soap from a soap dispenser being poured on a hand over a sink

2. Put soap on your hands.

A pair of hands washing thoroughly over a sink

3. Rub the palms of your hands together.

A pair of hands washing thoroughly over a sink

4. Put one hand over the other, wash the back of your hand and in between your fingers.

A pair of hands washing thoroughly over a sink

5. Turn your hands the other way. Wash the back of your other hand and in between your fingers.

A pair of hands washing thoroughly over a sink

6. Turn your hands palm to palm. Lock your hands together. Clean in between your fingers.

Left palm facing up, and right hand grabbing the 4 fingers on the left hand over a sink

7. With your left palm facing up, use your right hand to grab the 4 fingers on the left hand and close both hands together.

A pair of hands washing thoroughly over a sink

8. Wash the backs of your fingers on the palms of your hands.

A pair of hands washing thoroughly over a sink

9. Using your right hand, make a fist around your left thumb. Wash your thumb.

A pair of hands washing thoroughly over a sink

10. Do the same thing the other way around. Wash your other thumb.

A pair of hands washing thoroughly over a sink

11. Rub the tips of your fingers on your palm.

A pair of hands washing thoroughly over a sink

12. Turn your hands around and do the same on the other side.

A pair of hands washing thoroughly over a sink

13. Using your left hand, make a fist around your right wrist.

A pair of hands washing thoroughly over a sink

14. Then wash your other wrist.

A pair of hands rinsing off soap under a running tap

15. Wash the soap off your hands with water.

A pair of hands being dried with a paper towel

16. Dry your hands with a paper towel.

A hand turning off a tap using a paper towel

17. Turn off the tap with the paper towel.

A hand throwing a used paper towel into a bin inside a kitchen cupboard

18. Throw the paper towel away.

A bottle of hand sanitiser, a pair of soapy hands and a stopwatch displaying 20 seconds

Washing your hands should take about 20 seconds.

A birthday cake

That is about the same time it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday' all the way through 2 times.

a pair of red, sore hands

What if my hands get sore?

An open tub of moisturising cream

Putting cream on your hands is helpful for some people.

a woman talking on the phone

If your hands get very sore or painful, get advice from the chemist or call NHS 111