Study after study indicates the best way to control the spread of disease is by simply washing your hands on a regular basis. But, effective hand washing is not that simple. Effective hand washing requires that your hands are really wet before applying soap. Then, for about 10 seconds your hands must be thoroughly lathered away from the running water, especially under the fingernails. Your hands should be thoroughly rinsed underneath warm water without allowing the water to run toward your elbows. Finally, a paper towel should be used to turn off the water and discarded; a clean dry towel should then be used to dry your hands.

Why go through all this? There are several good reasons. Surprisingly, if you washed your hands with dirt and water your hands would be cleaner than if you washed them with water alone. Effective hand washing is not a function of merely rinsing off the germs. It