An expert says washing hands is the best way to keep your hands clean, rather than a disinfectant

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - If you are desperately looking for a hand sanitizer to avoid contamination of your hands, you should know that a lot more than one sanitizer is required to avoid this.

In this photo, taken on Friday March 6, 2020, a fast food worker washes his hands in the back of the Richardson, Texas restaurant. (AP / LM Otero photo)

Experts say that the best way to keep your hands clean is to wash your hands properly. While this may seem obvious, there is actually a lot more to think about.

Here are some tips for washing your hands:

• Use water that is neither too cold nor too hot.
• Make sure you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds
• Avoid "flat hands technique": wash every part of your hands well
• When you wash your hands, remove the rings and other jewels as dirt collects under them
• Use paper towels to close the water and dry your hands.

Tim Palmer, a food safety consultant in Linn County, said people should stop sharing towels.

"You took that towel you thought was clean and put the germs back in your hands," said Palmer. "He's doomed to fail."

Palmer said cell phones are among the dirtiest things people have at home. He recommended that people wash their hands after phoning.

"Their hands go everywhere, they touch everything, they care about the people we love," said Palmer. "Then it's a good idea to keep them clean."

Let's block the ads! (Why?)