What is the minimum required duration for proper handwashing?

• A. 15 seconds
• B. 20 seconds
• C. 25 seconds
• D. 30 seconds

Answer: (B)

Twenty seconds is the minimum time you need to wash hands properly. This amount of time gives enough friction with soap to lift germs from all areas of the hands—palms, backs, between the fingers, under the nails, and at the wrists—so they can be rinsed away. Shorter times, like fifteen seconds, often don’t remove as many microbes, while longer times (twenty-five or thirty seconds) exceed the minimum but are not required for the standard practice. After washing, dry with a disposable towel and use it to turn off the faucet to avoid recontamination.