The day was launched in 2008 by the Global Handwashing Partnership, with the aim of motivating individuals, communities and governments to prioritise hand hygiene.
Even today, thousands of people, particularly in low-resource settings, lack access to clean water, soap, or functioning handwashing facilities. In both community and healthcare settings, poor hand hygiene enables the spread of infections.
In fact, studies suggest that improving hand hygiene practices in health care settings alone could prevent up to 50% of avoidable infections acquired during care delivery.
Why Handwashing Still Matters
Hands are a major vector for transmitting germs between people and surfaces.
Many illnesses, from the common cold and flu to gastrointestinal infections, spread via contaminated hands.
Even when hands look clean, invisible microbes can be present.
In healthcare, care, and school settings, poor hand hygiene contributes to outbreaks and health care-associated infections.
How to Wash Your Hands Properly
From NHS guidance:
Wet your hands with clean running water, then apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces.
Rub your hands together, palm to palm.
Rub the backs of hands, between fingers, and under the nails.
Clean your thumbs and fingertips (rotational rubbing).
Continue for approximately 20 seconds (or the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice).
Rinse your hands under running water.
Dry them thoroughly with a disposable towel or paper towel. Use it also to turn off the tap, if possible.
If your hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser (at least 60% alcohol) can be used as an alternative, but note it is not effective against some organisms, such as those causing norovirus or certain gastrointestinal infections.
In care settings, hands should be washed for 20 seconds, covering all areas of hands and wrists (liquid soap and warm running water) and dried using paper towels.
When You Should Wash Your Hands
You should wash your hands at key moments, including:
Before preparing, handling or eating food
After using the toilet or changing a nappy
After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
After touching animals or handling pet food
After touching rubbish or cleaning tasks
When returning home from outside
Before and after caring for someone who is ill
Any time hands are visibly soiled
Theme 2025: “Clean Hands, Healthy Future”
This year’s theme emphasises that sustained investment and behaviour change, especially in schools, healthcare, and community settings, is essential to protect public health and build resilient systems.
How You Can Get Involved
Raise awareness, share information or infographics on social media using #GlobalHandwashingDay.
Teach children, run handwashing demonstrations in schools or at home.
Support access to hygiene facilities, donate or volunteer with charities providing clean water, soap or handwashing stations.
Lead your workplace, encourage hand hygiene policies, provide hand sanitiser and changing facilities, and normalise good practice.
UK Health Resource Links
These trusted UK sources provide further advice, guidelines, and downloadable materials:
Resource Description
NHS: How to wash your hands Step-by-step handwashing guidance and video.
Infection Prevention & Control: Adult Social Care (UK Gov) Guidance for care workers on hand hygiene in adult social care settings.
Preventing & Controlling Infections in Schools / Childcare (Gov.uk) Advice on hand hygiene in educational settings.
UK Health Publications Best Practice: How to Handwash Printable posters and guidance from UK health agencies.
Handwashing policy in general practice / community (IPC) Official documents on hand hygiene in primary care and community settings.
Infection Prevention Control
Hull University Teaching Hospitals — Hand Hygiene Information Patient-facing leaflet and advice on good practice.
NHS England: National Hand Hygiene & PPE Policy Institutional policy resource for NHS organisations.
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