Which is the proper handwashing duration?

• A. At least 20 seconds.
• B. 2 minutes.
• C. 10 seconds.
• D. 5 seconds.

Answer: (A)

Washing hands for at least 20 seconds gives enough time for the soap to lift germs from every part of your hands and for the scrubbing action to remove them. Focus on all surfaces: palms, backs of hands, between the fingers, under the nails, around the thumbs, and the wrists. The idea is to combine soap with gentle friction so the germs are rinsed away with water. A handy way to pace it is to hum or sing “Happy Birthday” twice while you scrub.

Shorter times, like 10 seconds or 5 seconds, often miss spots such as between fingers or under the nails, so they don’t clean effectively. A 2-minute wash isn’t necessary for routine hygiene and can be impractical in a school setting, even though it would still remove germs. The safe, effective guideline is to scrub for at least 20 seconds.