The sentence we hear most these days besides "stay home" is "wash your hands for about 20 seconds with soap". We all and we are following the advice, but do you know why you should specifically wash for 20 seconds?
20 seconds is the most effective way to make sure your hands don't spread any kind of pathogen. During this time you remove all germs and kill pathogens that are visible only to the microscope.
Moreover, washing your hands for 15-30 seconds helps you remove more germs than you could if you wash them for less time.
A 2012 study by the International Association for Food Protection found that those who washed their hands for 20 seconds significantly reduced the number of bacteria compared to those who only washed for 5 seconds.
In addition to time, the quality of washing is also important. Remember that germs are often found in hidden places on the wrists or under the nails, so it is important to pay attention to their friction.
