Do One Simple Thing for Your Health this Winter

It seems so basic, but washing your hands can be one of your best defenses against illness.

Winter is often noted for its guest list of viruses that unknowingly pass from person to person. But there’s no reason to simply wait for one of them to find their way to you and make you sick. If you’re looking for the easiest way to protect yourself from germs that are on just about every surface around you, you’ll find that the power is in your hands. Literally.

Think about everything your hands touch in a day, like your phone, door handles, elevator buttons, shopping carts and light switches. Germs can linger on those objects for hours. Then when you rub your eyes, scratch your nose or grab a snack without washing up, those germs get a free ride into your body.

Handwashing is one of the simplest ways to stop that from happening. It removes dirt, viruses and bacteria before they have a chance to make you sick. It might sound too simple to make a difference, but washing your hands is one of the best defenses against illnesses like colds, flu, RSV, norovirus and COVID-19. Yet many people still don’t do it often enough or correctly.

The Best Way to Wash Your Hands

You might not be able to control what others touch or how often they wash, but you can control what you do. Each time you wash your hands, you reduce your risk of getting sick and you help protect your loved ones, coworkers and everyone you come into contact with.

You don’t need to scrub your hands every five minutes, but these are prime times to wash your hands:

• Before eating or preparing food
• After using the bathroom
• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
• After touching public surfaces like elevator buttons or shopping carts
• After caring for someone who’s sick
• After handling pets or cleaning up after them

To get the most protection, follow these tips to make sure you’re washing your hands properly:

• Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold).
• Lather with soap and rub your hands together, covering all surfaces.
• Scrub for at least 20 seconds—about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
• Rinse under running water.
• Dry with a clean towel or air dry them.

If you’re on the go and don’t have access to soap and water, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) is a good backup.

Frequent handwashing can dry out your skin, especially in winter when the air is already cold and dry. But that doesn’t mean you should skip doing it. Just follow these suggestions for keeping your hands softer and less irritated while still keeping them germ-free:

• Use lukewarm water instead of hot.
• Choose a gentle, fragrance-free soap.
• Pat your hands dry instead of rubbing.
• Apply moisturizer right after washing to lock in moisture.

There’s no guaranteed way to stay healthy during cold and flu season. But washing your hands can go a long way in protecting you from germs. So, this winter, make handwashing a regular part of your routine. Because sometimes, the simplest habits really do make the biggest difference.