How To Wash your Hands Properly to Reduce the Spread of Infection Follow these steps to drastically cut down the spread of infection: WET YOUR HANDS - with clean, running water, warm or cold is fine. Turn off the tab and apply soap LATHER YOUR HANDS - by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, under your nails and up your forearms. SCRUB YOUR HANDS - for at least 20 seconds. Hum Happy Birthday to yourself 2 times, this is approximately 20-30 seconds. RINSE YOUR HANDS - well under clean, running water DRY YOUR HANDS - with a clean towel or allow to air dry References CDC. (2015, September). Retrieved from Clean Hand Save Lives: Kids health....