1. Choose the Right Hand Sanitizer: To effectively kill germs and bacteria, choose a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Ensure it is not expired, as this may reduce its effectiveness.

2. Apply Enough Sanitizer: Dispense an adequate amount of hand sanitizer onto your palm – usually a dime-sized amount is sufficient for complete coverage.

3. Rub Palms Together: Bring your hands together and rub your palms against each other, distributing the sanitizer evenly across both hands.

4. Cover All Hand Surfaces: Spread the sanitizer over the entire surface of your hands, including fingers, thumbs, fingernails, and wrists by interlocking your fingers, rubbing your fingertips on your palms, and encircling each wrist with the opposite hand’s fingers.

5. Keep Rubbing Until Dry: Continue rubbing your hands together for at least 20 seconds or until they are completely dry. This ensures that the hand sanitizer has thoroughly evaporated and killed all harmful microorganisms.

6. Do Not Rinse or Wipe Off: Avoid rinsing or wiping off the hand sanitizer before it has dried, as doing so may diminish its effectiveness.

7. Use Hand Sanitizer Responsibly: While hand sanitizers are an effective way to clean your hands when soap and water are unavailable, they should not be considered a replacement for proper handwashing. Use them to supplement handwashing in situations where soap and water may be inaccessible or less practical.

By following these seven steps, you can confidently use hand sanitizer to protect yourself against harmful germs and bacteria when handwashing is not an option.