Why do I have to wash my hands?

Wash so yucky stuff goes away. Hands touch many messy things. Soap and water make hands clean. Clean hands help keep tummies happy.

You wash your hands because dirt and tiny germs can stick to them. Germs can make your tummy hurt or give you a cold. Soap and water lift them off and send them down the drain. It is like washing mud off a toy truck so it does not get mud on your bed.

Your hands touch many places where germs can wait. Germs are tiny living things, like bacteria, or tiny bits called viruses, that can make you sick if they get into your mouth, nose, or eyes. Soap helps lift oils and dirt where germs stick, and rubbing your hands loosens them so water can rinse them away. Fun fact: soap has a water-loving side and a grease-loving side, so it can grab grime and wash off with the water.