A Quick Guide to Handwashing to Prevent the Common Cold

If you want to avoid the common cold, all you have to do is wash your hands frequently! The most common way for a cold to spread is through coughing or sneezing, which leaves tiny droplets on doorknobs, computer keyboards, and other frequently used items. If you happen to come along and touch that spot, you may unknowingly touch your nose or mouth and become infected! Continue reading to learn how handwashing can help you avoid this issue and prevent the common cold:

How to wash your hands to prevent the common cold.

Pexel photo

1. The Reasons Why Handwashing Is Effective

Numerous infectious diseases, including gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, can be spread from person to person via contaminated hands. Certain strains of these infections can have serious consequences, particularly in young children, the elderly, and those with a weakened immune system. Proper handwashing can help prevent the spread of germs that cause these diseases. Because many of the viruses that cause colds can survive on surfaces for hours, routine hand washing is the most effective way to prevent them from entering your body! If you are a sick person, frequently washing your hands can help prevent the spread of germs.

2. The Best Way to Wash Your Hands for Cold Prevention

While it may seem trivial to read about proper handwashing techniques, the reality is that the majority of us are far too busy to wash our hands properly every time! After wetting your hands and adding soap, vigorously rub them together for 20 seconds. The soap is necessary because it eliminates a greater number of disease-causing organisms than simply washing with water. Rub your hands in all directions, including between your fingers and under your nails. At that point, thoroughly rinse your hands and pat them dry with an air dryer or a clean paper towel. If you are using a public restroom, you should use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and push the door open with another paper towel or your shoulder.

3. When Is It Appropriate to Wash My Hands

You should wash your hands frequently throughout the day to avoid catching a cold, as you will be touching objects and surfaces constantly. The most critical times to wash your hands are before and after eating, after using the restroom, and after handling unwashed vegetables, raw meat, or garbage. Additionally, you should immediately wash your hands after blowing your nose, sneezing, coughing, or touching your pet. If no sink is available, you should keep an alcohol-based sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol on hand. Rub the sanitizer over the entire surface of your hands, fingers, and wrists until your hands are dry. Throughout the day, when you are not near a bathroom, you should frequently use sanitizer.

We hope that this guide to handwashing helps you avoid getting sick and stay healthy!