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Kids and germs go hand in hand—literally. But you can banish many germs by getting your children to wash their hands frequently. Plain old soap and lots of warm water are all you need. A good hand washing involves physically rubbing the palms, fingers, nails, wrists, and backs of the hands to work up a lather, then more rubbing as you rinse your hands. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says during the wash, you should rub your hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds.

Some experts suggest that children sing a song while they wash hands to ensure they wash the full 20 seconds. Singing the full “Happy Birthday to You” twice takes about that time, or you could make up your own silly song.

Nowadays some public restrooms have automated faucets that your and your kids' hands never touch. If you do need to turn off the faucet, says the CDC, leave the water running while you grab a paper towel and use that to turn off the faucet. Many germ-conscious people also use a fresh paper towel to open the restroom door as they depart, avoiding germs on the door handle.

Plain old soap kills just as many germs and is just as good at preventing the spread of disease as household antibacterial soap, says a University of Michigan study. The antibacterial soap, however, may contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Make hand washing a part of your family's routine and send those germs down the drain!

WHEN TO WASH HANDS

Hands are a common carrier of viruses and bacteria to the body, so use common sense anytime you touch your mouth, eyes or nose.

These are key times for washing hands:

• Before eating
• After using the bathroom
• For caregivers, after changing diapers
• Before preparing and serving food
• After handling poultry, raw eggs, meat and seafood
• After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
• After handling garbage or soiled items
• After touching a keyboard or telephone
• After shaking hands
• After playing
• After petting animals

SANITIZER GEL VS. SOAP

What mom today doesn't have hand sanitizer in her giant purse? These products work well for killing most germs when soap and water aren't available. The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says sanitizers or wipes should contain 60 percent to 90 percent ethyl alcohol or isopropanol. An even more effective ethanol-based sanitizer is being tested with food handlers and care providers. With sanitizer, keep rubbing your hands until the gel is dry.

You don't need to limit sanitizers to outside the home. Using hand sanitizer at home may help prevent respiratory and gastrointestinal illness, according to studies in the journal Pediatrics. The alcohol in the sanitizer may kill rotavirus, a common cause of gastrointestinal illness, more effectively than soap and water.