Did you know that washing your hands frequently is one of the best ways to prevent illnesses from spreading? Especially over the holidays, when you’re gathering with other people, remember to follow good handwashing habits to protect yourself and others.

How you wash your hands matters, too. For the best protection from germs:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap and apply soap.

• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.

• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. This removes more germs from your hands than washing for shorter periods.

• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water to remove the soap.

• Dry your hands with a clean towel or air dryer. Germs can be transferred more easily to and from wet hands.

Here are key times when you should wash your hands:

• When your hands are dirty

• Before preparing food

• Before meals

• Before and after treating an open sore, cut or wound

• After using the bathroom

• After touching animals or animal waste

• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom

• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing

• After handling garbage

• When someone around you is ill

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention