Hand hygiene

Te mā o te ringa

This page has links to information in other languages.

Hand hygiene refers to cleaning your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub. Hand hygiene is the single most important way of stopping harmful germs (bacteria and viruses) spreading and causing infections.

The importance of hand hygiene

Everyone has germs. Our bodies are covered with germs that help us stay healthy. As well as germs that are usually on our skin, we also pick up germs from contact with other people or objects in our surroundings.

Germs are easy to pick up and transfer, so they can cause you or others to get sick. Although it's true that germs can be spread through the air, they're most easily spread through hand contact.

One of the best ways to stop germs spreading is to clean your hands. You can wash your hands with soap and water or decontaminate your hands with hand rub.

When you should clean your hands

You should always clean your hands:

before, during and after preparing food
before you eat
after touching raw meats like chicken and beef
after contact with contaminated surfaces such as rubbish bins, cleaning cloths and food-contaminated surfaces
after using the toilet
after helping someone who has used the toilet
after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or handling soiled tissues
before and after caring for someone who is sick
before and after treating a cut or wound, or contact with bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or urine
after changing nappies for a pēpi (baby) or adult
after touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste
after working in the garden
when your hands are visibly dirty (in which case, always use soap and water).

How to clean your hands correctly

Click the image below to open or download a poster showing how to clean your hands with soap and water or with hand rub.

How to clean your hands

Other posters about washing your hands are available in English, te reo Māori, Hindi, Sāmoan, Simplified Chinese and Tongan.

Regular hand hygiene, particularly before and after the activities listed above, is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick. It also stops germs spreading to others. It's quick, it's simple and it can keep us all from getting sick. Hand hygiene is a win for everyone, except the germs.

HealthInfo recommends the following pages

Henry the Hand Foundation
Henry the Hand Foundation aims to improve health and wellness by teaching people about the importance of hand hygiene. It has information and posters and videos that you can download and watch.
KidsHealth – Hygiene & hand washing
Information about when to wash your hands and how to do it well.
Ministry of Health – Homai kia rima mō ngā ringa mā (High five for clean hands)
A poster for kids in te reo Māori showing the right way to wash and dry hands.
Auckland Regional Public Health Service – Fufuluina o lima ma le tumanā
Hand washing information in Samoan.

Written by the Hand Hygiene Steering Group, Te Whatu Ora Waitaha. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed March 2023.

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