How Long Should Handwashing Last?

Recommendations on the duration of handwashing vary depending on whether the guidance is intended for the general public or healthcare workers. Unsurprisingly, healthcare professionals and patients or visitors to healthcare facilities need to wash their hands more carefully and frequently than the general population. However, there are differing recommendations on how long handwashing should last at home or in workplaces. The World Health Organization recommends that "the process of handwashing (from wetting the hands to drying them) should take between 40-60 seconds." They suggest that cleaning hands with an alcohol-based liquid should take 20-30 seconds. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends handwashing for 20-30 seconds. However, the reality is that most people wash their hands for less than 10 seconds. These findings were drawn from studies conducted in high-income areas where water and soap are readily available; therefore, the duration may be much shorter in water-scarce regions or low- and middle-income countries.