The standard handwashing duration is 20 seconds.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Depends on the water temperature
• D. Only in medical facilities

Answer: (A)

Duration matters for effective hand hygiene: you should wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This period gives enough time for thorough scrubbing of all hand surfaces—palms, backs, between fingers, and under the nails—to physically dislodge and rinse away germs. Water temperature doesn’t change the effectiveness; warm or cold water doesn’t make a difference to the microbial removal, so the minimum 20 seconds remains the standard. This guideline applies broadly, not only in medical facilities, because clean hands help prevent transmission in many settings. The other options aren’t correct because the duration isn’t dictated by water temperature, and handwashing with soap and water is important outside clinical environments too.