EVERYDAY WELL / CLEAN HANDS

Five steps. One useful habit.

A handwashing reminder you can use at the sink.

Everyday Well editorial content · Source links checked October 4, 2026 · Not clinically reviewed

Make the sequence easy to remember: wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry. The timer helps with just one part of that sequence.

Follow the complete sequence

1. Wet your hands using clean running water and apply soap.
2. Spread the lather over the backs of your hands, finger spaces and beneath nails.
3. Scrub for at least 20 seconds.
4. Rinse thoroughly under clean running water.
5. Dry with a clean towel or an air dryer.

Use the timer at the right moment

Set up the page before wetting your hands. Start timing once you are ready to scrub. The countdown does not cover wetting, rinsing or drying and cannot verify your technique. Avoid interrupting washing to interact repeatedly with your device.

Connect the habit to a moment

CDC identifies several useful occasions, including around food preparation and eating, after toilet use, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. Our checklist is a reminder to notice those occasions, not a record of every wash.

When soap and water are unavailable

CDC recommends a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol when soap and water are not readily available. Follow the product label. The website’s scrub timer is for soap-and-water washing, not a sanitizer application timer.

Source: CDC — About Handwashing.