Did you know that most of the dirt and germs we come in contact with on a daily basis get stuck under our fingernails and cuticles? This makes sense because we use our fingertips to touch objects all day long, including things others may have contaminated with the norovirus or other communicable diseases.

So, when you wash your hands, make sure to get any dirt out from under your fingernail area. You don’t have to use a nail brush like surgeons do (although you can). All you need to do is rub the fingertips on one hand on the palm of the other, as though you are scratching an itch.

Remember to use warm, soapy water and wash your hands for as long as it takes you to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

Using this technique habitually will cut down on the germs most likely to make you sick.

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image by wiccked via flickr