People seem to be obsessed with washing their hands these days and there is a very good reason for them to feel that way. With news about the coronavirus causing people to be concerned or perhaps even panicked, many people are now headed for the sink to take advantage of some soap and water. If you are in that number, a few seconds under the water is not going to be enough.
According to the CDC, you should be washing your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds. This will include scrubbing between the fingers, on the back of the hands and under the nails. The CDC has a song to help keep track of time or you can sing the ABC song or even the Happy Birthday song twice.
There are other ways to keep track, including several songs that have been popular over the decades. Try some of these songs on for size.
1960s – Sweet Caroline by Neil diamond
You can sing this song and kill germs at the same time. A single chorus of Sweet Caroline is about 20 seconds long.
“Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I’ve been inclined
To believe they never would
Oh, no, no”
1970s – Escape (The Piña Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes
If you are able to escape to the sink for 20 seconds, think about drinking a piña colada while you wash your hands.
“If you like piña coladas, and getting caught in the rain
If you’re not into yoga, if you have half a brain
If you like making love at midnight in the dunes of the cape
I’m the love that you’ve looked for, write to me and escape”
1980s – Africa by Toto
Although travel may be restricted, you can still travel to Africa while thinking about this song by Toto.
“It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had”
1990s – …Baby One More Time by Britney Spears
Even Britney Spears can help keep you on track with keeping your hands clean. Just hit the sink one more time and think of this song:
“My loneliness is killing me (and I)
I must confess I still believe (still believe)
When I’m not with you I lose my mind
Give me a sign
Hit me, baby, one more time”
2000s – Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
This song by Kelly Clarkson is a newer way to keep you on track with washing your hands. The bonus is, it will get stuck in your head.
“But since you’ve been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I’m so moving on
Yeah, yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get what I want
Since you’ve been gone”
2010s – Shake It Off by Taylor Swift
Take a tip from Taylor Swift and shake it off. Then towel-dry your hands with a paper towel.
“Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heart-breakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off”
For the Kids – Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
This is an old classic for the kids. Incidentally, the tune to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is the same as “Baa Baa Black sheep” and the ABC song. Take your pick.
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are”