When to wash your hands

Germs get on your hands from touching people, surfaces and objects throughout the day. You can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Or you may spread the germs to other people.

You can't keep your hands germ-free. But washing your hands often with soap and water can help limit the spread of germs.

Always wash your hands before and after:

• Making and eating food.
• Treating wounds or caring for a sick person.
• Touching an item or surface that is touched often by other people, such as door handles, gas pumps or shopping carts.
• Going into or leaving a public place.
• Putting in or taking out contact lenses.

Always wash your hands after:

• Using the toilet, changing a diaper or cleaning a child who has used the toilet.
• Touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste.
• Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• Touching garbage.
• Touching pet food or pet treats

Also, wash your hands when they look dirty.