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21 Section 3: Child Well-Being Resources Hand-Washing Hand-washing is the single most important thing child care providers can do to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. It is also the simplest and most economical way to wash away germs that can cause a wide variety of illness for children and adults. Hand-washing is recommended: • When you begin your child care day in the morning. • Before preparing, serving food or eating food. • After diapering children, wiping their noses or cleaning up messes. • After you’ve been to the bathroom — either with a child or by yourself. • If you’ve been interrupted to care for another child while you were preparing food or spoon-feeding an infant. Use soap and warm water. Any soap is good; anti-bacterial soap is not necessary. SOAP 1 Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds as you wash them. 2 Wash all surfaces, including backs of hands, wrists, between fingers and under fingernails. 3 Rinse your hands well. Leave the water running while rinsing your hands. 4 Dry your hands with a single-use towel. 5 Turn off the water using a paper towel instead of bare hands. 6 HAND-WASHING BEST PRACTICES9 HAND-WASHING POSTERS For free printable hand-washing posters in English and Spanish, visit: Nebraska Extension: UNL Food food.unl.edu/free-resource/ handwashing-posters