Compléter The Science of Hand WashingVersion en ligne Gapfill exercise par Edward Buriticá 1 virus people remove soap professionals transfer twenty eliminate hands water Washing is common practice for maintaining good hygiene and preventing disease . However , studies show that many people still don't wash their hands properly . Rinsing with water is not enough to viruses . This is because viruses can adhere to skin , and the friction caused by rubbing hands together is not always enough to them . The molecules in hand soap are able to break the virus away from the skin . These molecules can then kill the by breaking the bonds that hold it together . It is recommended that people wash their hands for over seconds with and . Drying hands is also important , because wet hands can bacteria to surfaces more easily than dry hands . Some use hand sanitizer instead of soap to prevent disease . While hand sanitizer can be effective against bacteria and viruses , medical agree that it is not quite as effective as soap and water .