Hand Washing Timer

Twenty seconds with soap and water

Public health guidance in Canada and in many other countries is to wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. That figure usually describes the scrubbing, once your hands are wet and soaped. Twenty seconds is longer than most people think, which is exactly why a visible countdown is useful.

The steps

1. Wet your hands with clean running water, warm or cold, whichever is comfortable.
2. Apply soap and lather it up.
3. Start the timer and scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, around your thumbs and under your nails.
4. Keep going until the timer ends. Include your wrists if they are dirty.
5. Rinse well under running water.
6. Dry with a clean towel or a paper towel, and use it to turn off the tap if you wish.

The whole routine takes longer

Some agencies describe the full wash, including wetting, lathering, scrubbing, rinsing and drying, as taking noticeably longer than twenty seconds. The 40 and 60 second buttons are there if you like to be thorough, or if you are helping a young child through the steps. Follow the guidance of your local public health authority if it differs.

Drying counts too

Public health guidance commonly stresses drying your hands thoroughly, since damp hands pick up and spread germs more easily. A clean towel that is changed often, or single-use paper towels, are the usual choices. If frequent washing leaves your skin dry, a simple moisturizer afterwards can help.

When to wash your hands

• Before preparing or eating food.
• After using the washroom or changing a diaper.
• After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
• After handling garbage, pets or pet waste.
• Whenever your hands look or feel dirty.

Alcohol-based hand rubs are commonly suggested when soap and water are not available and your hands are not visibly dirty. Read the product label and follow local guidance on how to use them.

Making it stick with children

Children often cut hand washing short. A countdown they can see turns it into a short challenge: lather before the timer starts, scrub until it ends. For very young children, wash alongside them and guide them through each step so the habit is built together.

Making it stick for everyone else

Put a timer in a spot you can see from the sink, such as a tablet leaned against a mirror, or use the page on your phone while you scrub. The ten-second button works for a final rinse check. Other quick countdowns are the 20-second, 30-second, 10-second and 1-minute timers, and the countdown timer takes any time you like.