Handwashing with soapĀ removes germs from hands. This helps prevent infections because: People frequently touch their eyes, nose, and mouth without even realizing it. Germs can get into the body through the eyes, nose and mouth and make us sick.
Keeping hands clean can prevent 1 in 3 diarrheal illnesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu.
A number of infectious diseases can be spread from one person to another by contaminated hands. These diseases respiratory infections, such as influenza, colds .