Do you actually have to wash your hands for 20 seconds? Sara Moniuszko, USA TODAYFebruary 1, 2026 at 8:01 AM 0 As flu season surges on, there's an easy way to reduce your risk of getting sick: Wash your hands properly. It may seem like common sense, but handwashing is one of the most important of ways of preventing the spread of infection, says Dr. Eric Ascher, a family medicine physician at Northwell's Lenox Hill Hospital. "Over 80% of infections are transmitted by hands which carry germs from these surfaces and transfer them into the eyes, nose or mouth," he says.
- - Do you actually have to wash your hands for 20 seconds?
Sara Moniuszko, USA TODAYFebruary 1, 2026 at 8:01 AM
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As flu season surges on, there's an easy way to reduce your risk of getting sick: Wash your hands properly.
It may seem like common sense, but handwashing is one of the most important of ways of preventing the spread of infection, says Dr. Eric Ascher, a family medicine physician at Northwell's Lenox Hill Hospital.
"Over 80% of infections are transmitted by hands which carry germs from these surfaces and transfer them into the eyes, nose or mouth," he says. "It is especially important to wash your hands before and after touching shared surfaces, and before eating or touching your face."
His rule of thumb? "Once you enter your home, you should wash your hands."
Here are other common questions about proper hand washing, answered.
snow along Route 9 in Tarrytown during the early hours of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Jose Castillo of Tarrytown, NY. walks through snow along Route 9 in Tarrytown during the early hours of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/NPdMLAb class=caas-img data-headline="See fun faces of people making the best of winter weather" data-caption="
Jose Castillo of Tarrytown, NY. walks through snow along Route 9 in Tarrytown during the early hours of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S.
">Jose Castillo of Tarrytown, NY. walks through snow along Route 9 in Tarrytown during the early hours of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S.
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1 / 15See fun faces of people making the best of winter weather
Jose Castillo of Tarrytown, NY. walks through snow along Route 9 in Tarrytown during the early hours of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S.
How long do we need to be washing our hands?
Remember the 20-second hand-washing guidance from the pandemic? That's still the golden rule, Ascher says.
"It is the time that is required for the soap and the friction you create from rubbing your hands together with soap to break down the germs," he says, adding you can time this at the sink yourself by singing the Happy Birthday song, the chorus of Aretha Franklin's "Respect" or chorus of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline."
It may seem simple, but multiple studies show people don't wash their hands as much as they should – and when they do, they often do it ineffectively.
To ensure the most thorough wash, make sure you're scrubbing everywhere – palms, fingers, backs of your hands and nails.
Microbes are in particularly high concentration under the nails, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Should I wash my hands with hot or cold water?
Hand-washing temperature doesn't matter when it comes to killing germs.
"The secret behind hand washing is not the temperature of the water," Ascher says. "It is the soap, the friction you create when rubbing your hands together and the time − minimum of 20 seconds, that is what removes the germs."
Ascher suggests warm water, mostly because it's most comfortable.
"Hot water can be drying on the skin and cold water may not be comfortable to last the full 20 seconds," he says.
In case you didn't see: How (and when) to use VapoRub this cold and flu season
What about soap versus antibacterial soap?
The CDC says the type of soap doesn't matter much, either.
"Studies have shown that there is no added health benefit for consumers (this does not include professionals in the healthcare setting) using soaps containing antibacterial ingredients compared with using plain soap," the agency says.
But that doesn't mean to skip the soap.
"Using soap to wash hands is more effective than using water alone because the surfactants in soap lift soil and microbes from skin, and people tend to scrub hands more thoroughly when using soap, which further removes germs," the CDC advises.
Heads up: What to take for a cough – and when to see a doctor
Is hand sanitizer just as good as hand washing?
"Hand sanitizer is not a replacement for washing your hands with water and soap," Ascher says. "It is a temporary supplemental solution if water and soap are not readily available."
That's because hand sanitizer doesn't remove all infections-causing germs. For example, hand sanitizer does not kill the norovirus which causes the stomach bug, Ascher explains.
Plus, if the sanitizer has less than 70% alcohol, it may have even a lower likelihood of killing germs, he adds.
You heard the experts: Scrub, scrub, scrub with soap and water for 20 seconds for maximum benefit.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High flu cases, flu symptoms and how to properly wash your hands
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