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Water, Sanitation, and Environmentally Related Hygiene (WASH)

Water, Sanitation, and Environmentally Related Hygiene (WASH)

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New CDC Training: Clean Hands and Spaces

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Hygiene refers to behaviors that can improve cleanliness and lead to good health, such as frequent handwashing, facial cleanliness, and bathing with soap and water. Many diseases can be prevented through proper hygiene practices, such as covering your cough and sneezes, washing hands after handling animals, and showering before you swim.

Coughing and Sneezing
Another sick day with a woman sneezing

Help stop the spread of germs by covering coughs and sneezes.

Infant Feeding Hygiene
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Careful cleaning, sanitizing, and storage of baby bottles and breast pump parts can prevent germs from contaminating milk.

Handwashing
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Learn about key times to wash your hands, the five steps, and more information.

Hygiene Fast Facts
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Find the latest statistics on access to hygiene services and personal hygiene.

Personal Hygiene
Hygiene Practices Around Animals
Infant Hygiene
Everyday Cleaning
Public Health and Medical Professionals
Hygiene in Resource-Limited Settings
Communication Resources
Publications, Data, and Statistics
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Additional Resources
  • Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility
  • Hygiene-Related Diseases
  • Training & Education
  • Swimming Hygiene
  • Four Steps to Food Safety
  • How to Stay Healthy Around Pets
Last Reviewed: November 8, 2022
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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homeWater, Sanitation, and Environmentally Related Hygiene
  • Hygiene Fast Facts
  • Personal Hygieneplus icon
    • Keeping Hands Clean
    • Nail Hygiene
    • Facial Cleanliness
    • Coughing and Sneezing
    • Foot Hygiene
    • Hair and Scalp Hygiene
    • Menstrual Hygiene
  • Infant Hygieneplus icon
    • Diaper Hygieneplus icon
      • Diaper Changing Steps for Childcare Settings
      • Diaper Changing Steps at Home
    • Infant Feeding Hygieneplus icon
      • Frequently Asked Questions on Cleaning Infant Feeding Items
      • How to Keep Your Breast Pump Kit Clean: The Essentials
      • Frequently Asked Questions on Breast Pump Cleaning
      • How to Keep Your Breast Pump Kit Clean: Science Behind the Recommendations
  • Everyday Cleaningplus icon
    • How to Clean and Disinfect Your Home
    • How to Clean and Disinfect a Facility
    • Cleaning and Disinfecting with Bleach
    • How to Clean and Disinfect Early Care and Education Settings
  • Hygiene Practices Around Animals
  • Swimming Hygiene
  • Hygiene-related Diseasesplus icon
    • Trachoma
  • Hygiene in Resource-Limited Settings
  • Public Health and Medical Professionals
  • Publications, Data, and Statistics
  • Communication Resourcesplus icon
    • Fact Sheets
    • Posters
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
  • Training and Educationplus icon
    • Clean Hands and Spaces: Web-Based Training
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