How long should you wash your hands between clients?

The recommended duration for washing hands to ensure effective sanitation is generally considered to be around 20 seconds. This length of time has been established based on guidelines provided by health organizations, which emphasize that thorough handwashing, including proper scrubbing of all surfaces of the hands, is crucial to remove pathogens effectively. Washing for at least 20 seconds helps achieve a higher level of cleanliness and reduces the risk of transferring bacteria and viruses between clients.

It’s important to include both the cleanup of visible debris and the appropriate use of soap during this process. The effectiveness of handwashing increases significantly with this duration, making it a critical practice in infection control within healthcare practices such as dental hygiene.