Wash Your Hands

The simple concept of washing your hands is something everyone can do to keep yourself and others healthy. Point blank, wash your hands.

I’m baffled that I’m writing such things, that you should wash your hands. But, some people do not wash their hands or do not do so as frequently as they should.  Gross. 

I see people in public sneezing and coughing without covering it or as little as turning their heads.  A pet peeve of mine right up at the top of the list, with loud breathing and chewing as a close second.  

I’m just disgusted with people and their hygiene.  And nowadays with The Rona, I’m more introverted than ever.  Only going out for the necessities. 

And if I’m telling the whole truth, I’m enjoying every minute of it.  

Yes, you ma’am… stand at least 6 feet away from me… And while you are at it.. Go wash your hands.  

I’ve been social distancing before it was a requirement. 

I find myself morphing into Bob Wiley from the movie What About Bob.  Using tissues to open doors, have problems “moving”, and chanting “I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful” over and over until I believe it.  

You betcha, I also wear a mask to protect myself, my family, my friends, and everyone else out there in my community too.  Heck, it is the least I can do to protect and be considerate of everyone else in the world. But that is another subject.

I have a medically complex child that is 2.5 years old.  We’ve lived in the NICU for 70 days, we spent 125 days inpatient before he was 6 months old, and still today we frequent the children’s hospital clinic and surgery.  All of this has taught me to wash my hands.  And not just a quickie wash, I’m talking elbows deep… through a 2-minute rub a dub-dub song, fingers bleeding wash.  Oh, and then sanitize every surface you can think of multiple times a day. I am conditioned; my family’s health is that important!  If you would like to read about our journey, you can read it by clicking here.

I’ve been in hyper-clean and sanitized mode since my son was born and keeping him healthy is an absolute priority.  When he gets sick, it can turn serious quickly. His airway is floppy (it’s called tracheomalacia) and had surgery to open his trachea so he could breathe when he was only 4 months old.  

I’ve taught my 13-year-old daughter over the years about the importance of handwashing.  Now, she automatically washes her hands as soon as she comes inside from being “out”.  Without a prompt from me, she sticks her hand out waiting for me to plop some hand sanitizer in the palm of her hand when we get in the car from a store or a public place. 

Why is it a good idea to wash your hands?

You can stop the spread of germs by washing your hands!!  Germs are spread by not covering your cough and sneeze releases droplets into the air. Also by touching your face (eyes, nose, and mouth) and then touching a surface. Someone else touches it and touches their face.. then BAM!  Infected! 

And once you start to be mindful of not touching your face, it will drive you crazy once you realize how many times a day you do it.  By habit, we touch our faces between 3-30 times per hour.  STOP TOUCHING YOUR FACE.  

How to wash your hands

Umm kay I’m going to break it down now. Take notes.

Wet your hands with warm or cold water (I always use warm/hot water when possible)

Use soap, lather all over the tops and palms, in between fingers and under fingernails.

Scrub for at least 20 seconds.  Sing happy birthday twice or the ABC’s.  In your head weirdo, or out loud to give everyone a show.

Rinse with clean water

Dry with a paper towel, or CLEAN towel.  Towels should be changed daily and ideally used by one person only.

Don’t have access to soap and water?  Use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. I love to buy in bulk, this one here is a whole gallon! Use it to fill your own reusable containers like this one for home and these when you are out and about. This one here is perfect for my son’s little fingers. Dispense into your palm and rub all over your hands and in between fingers until dry. 

When should you wash your hands?

Wash your hands in all these situations.  But don’t hold back… the sky’s the limit.  Feeling dirty? Wash your hands.  

Before, during and after preparing food or drinks

Before and after you eat

Before and after caring for someone that is sick

After you blow your nose, cough, or sneeze

After you change a diaper or help your kid wipe after using the bathroom

After YOU go to the bathroom…. #1 or #2… Don’t be gross.

After touching your pet, feeding them food or treats, and picking up animal waste

After taking out or handling the garbage

When out in public, after touching handrails, elevator buttons, door handles, and any highly touched items by the other people who can’t seem to stop touching their faces either.  

After pumping gas

Before getting in your car when out in public areas.  I keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in my car door.  After I open the door, I sanitize before I even get in my car and touch the seat belt, steering wheel, etc. 

After you get home from being out

Cleaning and Sanitizing

, you are washing your hands, but what about all the surfaces that you touch all day every day? Keeping surfaces clean and free of germs is one more step closer to staying healthy.  Get a cleaner with bleach like this one and refill a glass reusable spray bottle found here.

The number one thing you should be cleaning MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY is your cell phone.  Think of where you take it, what you are doing when you handle your phone, it is literally attached to you all day long.  

Clean at home

Remote controls

Door handles (inside and out)

Light switches

Bathroom faucet handles

Toilet flush handle

Kitchen surfaces where food is prepared

Kitchen faucet handles

Refrigerator handles and water/ ice dispenser

Microwave handle and touch pad

Dishwasher handle and controls

Stove handle and dials

Kids toys, books, and tablets

Bedroom nightstands and dresser handles

Car door handle (inside and out)

Steering wheel and shifter

Clean at work

Computer, keyboard, and mouse

Your work desktop

Frequently used supplies like stapler, calculator, and pens 

Printer / copier

File drawer handles

Light switches 

Door handles (inside and out)

This list is not intended to restrict you from cleaning other surfaces.  Use common sense, if you think it is dirty, then clean it.

Conclusion

I cannot control the world and what people choose to do.  I can try to maintain a level of clean so that the chances of my family staying healthy are high.  It is scary out there, ignorance and hygiene do not go well together…. All I can do is spread the message to wash your fucking hands.

Thanks for reading my obvious, yet important article on the importance of hand cleanliness. Hopefully, you have been enlightened and now see washing your hands adds value to everyone’s lives!

Now go wash your hands.