Clean your hands to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases

On this page

• Reduce the spread of infectious diseases
• How to clean your hands properly
• When to clean your hands
• Boil water advisories

Reduce the spread of infectious diseases

Practising hand hygiene is one way you can help reduce your risk of getting or spreading infectious diseases, including:

• COVID-19
• the flu (influenza)
• respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• the stomach flu (gastroenteritis)

Cleaning your hands removes or kills the germs on your skin. It's a simple action that can be layered with other personal protective measures to reduce the spread of infectious diseases.

Hand hygiene means:

• washing your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or
• using a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for 20 seconds or until dry

How to clean your hands properly

When possible, use soap and water to wash your hands, especially when visibly dirty.

To wash your hands properly:

1. wet your hands with water
2. apply soap while your hands are out of the water
3. rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds
   • rub your palms, the back of each hand, between your fingers, thumbs and under your nails
4. rinse your hands well with clean water
5. dry your hands with a clean cloth or paper towel
6. use the cloth or paper towel to turn off the tap

If there's no running water, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. If your hands are visibly dirty, remove as much residue as possible before using hand sanitizer. For example, use a wet wipe. Hand sanitizer may be less effective when your hands are visibly dirty. Dirt, food, grease and other contaminants can affect the way hand sanitizers work.

To clean your hands properly with hand sanitizer:

1. put some hand sanitizer into the palm of one hand
   • use enough hand sanitizer to wet both hands completely
2. rub your hands together for 20 seconds or until dry
   • make sure to rub your palms, the back of each hand, between your fingers, thumbs and under your nails

When to clean your hands

Get into the habit of cleaning your hands regularly and properly. You should clean your hands:

• when visibly dirty
• before eating or handling food
• before touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• before and after visiting or caring for someone who's more vulnerable to infection
• before and after caring for someone who's sick
• after using the toilet
• after touching a used mask
• after shaking hands with someone
• after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
• after contact with frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as remotes, phones and door handles

Boil water advisories

Clean water isn't always available. This can happen when there's a drinking water advisory or when you're somewhere where you're not sure if the water is safe.

If there's an advisory to 'boil water' or 'do not consume', you can still wash your hands with tap water, as usual.

However, if there's a 'do not use' advisory, don't use tap water to wash your hands. Instead, use bottled water with soap, especially if your hands are visibly dirty.

If bottled water isn't available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to clean your hands. For additional information on an active boil water advisory, contact your local public health authority.

Learn more about:

• Indigenous communities: Protect your health and your community

Related links

• Flu prevention and risks
• RSV prevention and risks
• COVID-19 prevention and risks
• Respiratory infectious diseases: Break the chain of infection
• Infographic: Reduce the spread of infectious diseases: How to properly wash your hands
• Respiratory infectious diseases: How to reduce the spread with personal protective measures

For health professionals

• Guidance for Issuing and Rescinding Boil Water Advisories in Canadian Drinking Water Supplies