handwashing
Lathering your palms
Handwashing is cleaning one's hands with soap and water—a basic hygiene practice to prevent disease transmission: Handwashing before meals reduces infection risk.
As two words, hand washing can describe laundering delicate items by hand rather than machine.
Figuratively, hand-washing echoes Pontius Pilate's gesture of disclaiming responsibility.
Microscopic disease agents
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
- pathogensDisease-causing microorganisms
- microbesMicroscopic living organisms
contamination · sanitation · cleanliness · disinfect · sanitize · antibacterial · hygienic · sterile
Clean by rubbing hard
- latherFoamy soap bubbles
- rinseWash without scrubbing
- soapFatty alkali cleanser
- waterClear essential liquid
faucet · washbasin · sink · suds · foam · bubbles · friction · fingernails
Fatty alkali cleanser
- sanitizerAgent that reduces microbes
- dispenserDevice that releases portions
- pumpFluid-moving machine
- liquid soapFluid cleansing agent
bar soap · foam soap · moisturizing · antibacterial soap · fragrance-free · aloe · gentle · alcohol-based
Ritualized washing of body
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- observanceKeeping of customs
sacred · blessing · prayer · mikveh · holy water · religious · spiritual cleansing · symbolic
Halting pathogen transmission
- hospitalMedical treatment facility
- healthcareOrganized provision of treatment
- surgical scrubAntiseptic hand-cleansing protocol
- patient safetyFreedom from medical harm
CDC guidelines · compliance · healthcare workers · gloving · clinical
germs
Microscopic disease agents
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
- pathogensDisease-causing microorganisms
microbes · contamination · sanitation · cleanliness · disinfect · sanitize · antibacterial · hygienic · sterile · aseptic
scrub
Clean by rubbing hard
water · faucet · washbasin · sink · suds · foam · bubbles · friction · fingernails · palms
soap
Fatty alkali cleanser
liquid soap · bar soap · foam soap · moisturizing · antibacterial soap · fragrance-free · aloe · gentle · alcohol-based · touchless dispenser
ablution
Ritualized washing of body
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- traditionCustom passed through generations
observance · sacred · blessing · prayer · mikveh · holy water · religious · spiritual cleansing · symbolic · consecration
infection prevention
Halting pathogen transmission
- hospitalMedical treatment facility
- healthcareOrganized provision of treatment
- surgical scrubAntiseptic hand-cleansing protocol
patient safety · CDC guidelines · compliance · healthcare workers · gloving · clinical
- kids' healthhealthy habits, hygiene, nutrition, wellness, healthy eating
- handwashingsoap, lather, rinse, scrub, water
- prevention actionssanitizing, vaccination, masking, distancing, screening
- safety measuresbackup plan, fire prevention, fire drills, escape route, home security
- sanitizingsanitizing, disinfecting, sterilizing, decontaminating, bleaching
- School Hygienedental hygiene, cleanliness, healthy habits, restrooms, soap dispensers
handwashingcontamination
Introduction of impurities
poor hygiene · cross-contamination · unwashed hands · spreading germs · filth
handwashinghand sanitizer
Waterless palm cleanser
sanitizer · alcohol rub · antibacterial gel · alcohol gel · wipes
hand, wash, hands, washing, washed, washroom, washer, washes, washable