Worried about the swine flu getting you? Not if you were washing your hands as often as you should with soap. That is still the best way in the world to fight disease.

Studies have proved, over and over, that hands are one of the leading sources of spreading infection. Diarrhoea, pneumonia and acute respiratory problems are the direct result of infection caused primarily by dirty hands. A 2009 Global Hygiene survey has found that 60% of us don't know that washing hands can prevent flu. Dr. Narendra Saini, of the Global Hygiene Council, says it is particularly "disturbing" that 70% of us don't wash our hands after touching ordinary objects. Dr. Sandip K Ray, professor of Community Medicine at Gulbarga’s Khaja Bandanawaj Institute of Medical Sciences, cautions that swine flu will surely spread less quickly if people wash their hands more. "It has been found that the risk of diarrhoea is reduced by half and that of life-threatening diarrhoea by more than half, when hands are washed with soap," he says. So, when should we wash our hands? Every time they get dirty, say experts. But more importantly, before eating or feeding children, after using the toilet, every time we cough or sneeze and before wearing contact lenses. Dr. Ray says it takes at least 20-30 seconds to wash one’s hands properly but most of us spend just five seconds.

There are six steps to germ-free hands: Wet hands, apply soap, rub palms till a lather is created Rub each palm over the back of the other hand Rub between the fingers Rub the backs of fingers Rub around each thumbs Rub palms with finger tips Rinse and dry It's equally important to dry one’s hands on a clean towel.