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National Handwashing Day is October 15th! Since school just started and the weather is changing, you, your family or friends may be more prone to getting the sniffles or a little cold. No one likes to get sick! It’s very easy to pass germs around without even knowing and it’s so important to help keep yourself and your friends safe by staying clean and healthy. One huge way to do that is to wash your hands often throughout the day!

We don’t even realize how often we touch different objects in public, touch our faces, and touch our friends. Maybe someone will play outside in the dirt during recess and then touch a doorknob to come back into the school. Maybe you might sneeze and then pick up a book from the library. These are all normal things that happen, but with so many ways to accidentally transmit different germs and illnesses, washing our hands can help to lessen the spread of germs and will keep your hands squeaky clean. 

You might be wondering, well, since I do so much with my hands, how do I know when to wash them? Well, you can wash them whenever you want, but here are some instances when it’s very important to wash your hands:

  • Before and after you eat
  • If you wipe your eyes, nose, or put your fingers in your ears
  • Before and after touching a cut or scrape
  • After going to the bathroom
  • After playing with animals
  • After playing outside
  • After taking out the trash

For example, here at the library, I am always in contact with people, books, and different objects that many people touch all day. I make it a point to wash my hands in between handling books, touching computers, high-fiving super cool kids like you, and just when I feel like I need a good hand scrub. Keeping myself and my community safe is important to me, and it can be fun! I have a secret tip to make handwashing super fun…let’s see down below! This is a secret you can share with friends!

How to Wash Your Hands Thoroughly

  • 1
    Wet your hands with warm/cool water.
  • 2
    Apply some soap and get sudsy!
  • 3
    Rub your hands back and forth for at least 20 seconds. Make sure you rub on the backs of your hands, your wrists, and between your fingers!
  • 4
    Here’s a secret tip: get your groove on and sing a song while you wash your hands! It helps to pass the time, and you are sure to get to 20 seconds of washing! I like to sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. You can also sing your ABCs, Itsy Bitsy Spider, or Happy Birthday (twice)!
  • 5
    Rinse. Hold your hands under the water to make sure all the suds slide off.
  • 6
    Shake your hands a few times and dry your hands with a paper towel or with an air dryer.
  • 7
    Make sure to turn off the water!

Washing your hands with soap and water removes dirt, germs, and bacteria. Hand sanitizer is good, too, because it removes bacteria and certain germs from the skin. However, it may not remove all dirt, germs, or chemicals like handwashing does. But if hand sanitizer is more accessible for you at certain times, then sanitize away! 

Staying healthy is so important for yourself, your family and the community. Washing your hands isn’t only good for you, but good for the people around you, too! Let’s work together to stay clean and healthy – scrub-a-dub those hands!

Here’s some fun books about sudsing up, washing your hands and the science behind germs! Let’s keep the germs at bay and have fun scrubbing!

Germs are not for sharing / Elizabeth Verdick ; illustrated by Marieka Heinlen

Describes what germs are and what they can do.

Superheroes wash their hands! / illustrated by Kasia Dudziuk ; written by Katie Button

Learn to be a handwashing hero and defeat germs with this fun die-cut board book. Follow the superheroes as they wash their hands and watch as the villainous virus character gets smaller on each page!

Washy wash! and other healthy habits / written by Cat Reynolds ; illustrated by Sesame Workshop and Paul Roberts ; designed by Paul Roberts

“Elmo, Big Bird, and their Sesame Street friends know that good hygiene is more important than ever now. This rhyming book features fun ways for young girls and boys to stay healthy. From the right way to wash your hands-including the lyrics to the Sesame Street Washy Wash song from the popular video!-to leaving six feet between you and others, kids will learn that ‘The best way to take care of others is to take care of YOU!'”

-Publisher Description

What are germs? / written by Katie Daynes ; illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns

What are germs? How do they spread? And how do medicines help? Curious young children can take a closer look at those mischievous, microscopic bacteria and viruses in this fascinating introduction to germs and hygiene, with 30 flaps to lift and tips on hand-washing and staying healthy.

Curious George: Wash your hands / text by Chris Ayala-Kronos ; illustrated by Rudy Obrero

A playful and informative board book story for the youngest Curious George fans finds the ever-inquisitive monkey learning about germs, the importance of cleanliness, and the right way to wash his hands.