# A hand washing song for kids that lasts the full 20 seconds A hand washing song for kids keeps them scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, the time the CDC recommends, by singing through each step: wet, soap, palms, backs, between fingers, thumbs, rinse and dry. Tell us your bathroom details and an optional name, check the lyrics, and play it at the sink. ## What the guidance says The CDC lists five steps: wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap; lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails; scrub for at least 20 seconds; rinse well; dry with a clean towel or air dryer. Its own timer tip is to hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice. A song made for this job does the timing for children and names each step, so they learn the order as well as the length. ## What children can learn at each age - **Toddlers** learn that soap and rubbing come before rinsing, with your hands guiding theirs. - **Preschoolers** can follow the steps from the song: palms, backs, fingers, thumbs. - **School children** can learn when to wash: before eating, after the toilet, after playing outside or with pets. ## What to type in the form - **The steps you want named.** The writer follows the CDC order by default. Add nails or wrists if you like. - **Real details:** the step stool, the frog soap pump, the blue towel. - **When it is used:** before lunch at nursery, after the garden, after the potty. - **A name** if it is for one child, or "we" for a class. ## How to use it at the sink Our songs are about two minutes long, which is longer than one hand wash. Most families play it from the start as they walk to the sink, use the first verse for wetting and soap, scrub through the chorus and the second verse, then rinse and dry and stop the song. That gives well over 20 seconds of scrubbing without anyone counting. Use the same song every time so it becomes the cue. In a classroom, play it before snack and let the group scrub together. See also the [two-minute toothbrushing song](/songs/toothbrushing-song-2-minutes) for the same idea at bedtime. ## Making hand washing a habit Habits form from the same cue at the same moments. Pick two or three fixed times, such as before every meal and after the toilet, and play the song every time for a few weeks. Let your child press play; small jobs make them keen. Keep soap and towel within reach so they can do it without lifting. Praise the scrubbing, not just the finish: "Look at those soapy thumbs!" Once the habit holds, many children sing the chorus on their own and you can drop the speaker. ## Accuracy and tone Read the lyrics before the song is made and check the steps are in order and that soap comes before scrubbing. The writer avoids scary talk about germs: a song that makes children afraid of dirt is not the goal. Our songs do not make health claims; this one only helps children wash the way the guidance describes. ## Example lyrics Made with Still Morning for a made-up example, from these details: "Ava climbs her yellow step stool, pumps the frog soap twice, and washes before lunch and after the garden. Name each step: wet, soap, palms, backs, between fingers, thumbs, rinse, dry on the blue towel. Bubbles in the chorus.". **Wash Wash Bubbles** ``` [Verse 1] Ava climbs up on her stool Turns the water cool and slow Wet your hands, that is the way Now it's time to make them soapy [Chorus] Wash wash bubbles, scrub scrub scrub Wash wash bubbles, rub rub rub Wash wash bubbles, clean and bright Ava washes day and night [Verse 2] Pump the frog soap one, two Palms together, that's what you do Scrub the backs and in between Thumbs and fingers, keep them clean [Chorus] Wash wash bubbles, scrub scrub scrub Wash wash bubbles, rub rub rub Wash wash bubbles, clean and bright Ava washes day and night [Bridge] Rinse the bubbles down the drain Dry on the blue towel again [Chorus] Wash wash bubbles, scrub scrub scrub Wash wash bubbles, rub rub rub Wash wash bubbles, clean and bright Ava washes day and night ``` ## What it cannot do It is a song, not a timer: it will not stop on its own when hands are clean, so you stop it after drying. It gives no medical advice. A two-minute song is longer than one wash, so if you want a 20-second jingle only, sing the chorus yourself. ## Questions **How long should kids wash their hands?** The CDC says to scrub for at least 20 seconds. The song keeps them scrubbing through a chorus and a verse, which is longer than that. **Is the song exactly 20 seconds?** No. Our songs are about two minutes. You use part of it for the scrubbing and stop it once hands are dry. **Can I make one for my nursery class?** Yes. Leave the name out and ask for "we" so the whole group sings along. Teachers often pair it with a [transition song](/classroom/transition-songs-for-classroom) for lining up. **Will it frighten my child about germs?** No. The writer is told never to use scary images. The song talks about bubbles and clean hands, not illness. **Can it be in Spanish?** Yes, or German, French, Portuguese or Italian. Pick the language in the form. **Can my toddler wash hands alone?** Most toddlers need help reaching the tap, pumping soap and rinsing. Let them do the rubbing while you guide, and hand over more steps as they grow. The song stays the same, which helps them notice what comes next. ## Sources - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, [About Handwashing | Clean Hands](https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html), 2024-02-16. Read 2026-10-17. --- Still Morning: one song $29, five songs $49, twenty songs $99 (the same numbers in euros or pounds in Europe and the UK), paid once. No subscription; packs never expire. Made with AI. The words come from an AI writer working from your details, and you approve them. The music and the voice come from an AI music model (not a human singer). Make a song: https://stillmorning.net/create Page: https://stillmorning.net/learn/hand-washing-song-for-kids (updated 2026-10-17)