LIFE IS BETTER WITH CLEAN HANDS 

Campaign Promotion Toolkit 

CS310734A

LIFE IS BETTER WITH

This material was developed by CDC. The Life is Better with Clean 

Hands campaign is made possible by a partnership between the 

CDC Foundation, GOJO, and Staples. HHS/CDC does not endorse 

commercial products, services, or companies.
Campaign Overview

Schools

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Promotion and Outreach Suggestions 

Facility Managers

Public

Digital Graphics

Parents

Sample Social Media Posts

Online Resources

Health Observances to Promote Handwashing

Public Health Organizations

Sample Newsletter Announcements

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIFE IS BETTER WIT

H
Through this campaign CDC aims to: You can use the materials in this toolkit to encourage

handwashing within your community: • Motivate adults to wash hands during key times to prevent

the spread of germs and help protect them, their children,

and other loved ones.

• Help adults feel confident that they can overcome

obstacles to handwashing.

• Remind adults of the importance of washing hands after

using the bathroom and while preparing food.

• Encourage parents to be handwashing role models for

their children.

• Encourage parents to teach their children how and when

to wash their hands.

• Promotion and outreach suggestions

• Social media messages

• Sample newsletter announcements

• Links to online campaign posters and materials

• Online resource list

Thank you for your support as we spread the word that life is better with clean hands!

For more information on the importance of handwashing, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing.

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CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW

This Global Handwashing Day (October 15) CDC is launching Life is Better with Clean Hands, a new national campaign designed to 

motivate adults to make clean hands part of their daily lives. Keeping hands clean with soap and water is one of the most important 

things everyone can do to stay healthy. Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related sicknesses and 1 

in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu.

This campaign is aimed at adults, with special emphasis on parents and caregivers. Materials are designed to help raise awareness about 

the importance of handwashing at key times in both homes and public settings, such as before cooking or after using the bathroom. 

LIFE IS BETTER WITH
PROMOTION AND OUTREACH SUGGESTIONS

Public Health Organizations Public

• Use the hashtag #KeepHandsClean and follow CDC’s social 

media accounts to like, share, or comment on content related to 

the Life is Better with Clean Hands campaign. 

o Facebook (www.facebook.com/CDC) and Facebook en 

Español (www.facebook.com/CDCespanol).

o Twitter - @CDCgov (www.twitter.com/cdcgov), 

@CDCespanol (www.twitter.com/CDCespanol), 

and @CDC_NCEZID (www.twitter.com/CDC_NCEZID)

o Instagram - @CDCgov (www.instagram.com/CDCgov)

• Visit our website www.cdc.gov/handwashing to learn more 

about handwashing and share materials from the Life is Better 

with Clean Hands campaign.

• Tell your family and friends about the Life is Better with Clean 

Hands campaign and share tips to make handwashing a healthy 

habit at home and away.

• Include handwashing content on your organization’s website. 

CDC offers a free web content syndication service that allows 

you to add content from CDC’s Handwashing website to your 

own website without having to maintain or update it. When CDC 

updates content, those updates appear immediately on your site. 

Visit the CDC Public Health Media Library for more information.

• Add Life is Better with Clean Hands web banners to your website 

• Add links from this toolkit’s “Online Resource List ” to your website. 

• Order FREE POSTERS and distribute at community 

outreach events. 

• Share sample social media messages and graphics from CDC’s 

campaign toolkit on your social media platforms. 

• Include a campaign announcement in your organization’s 

newsletter.

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LIFE IS BETTER WITH
Parents Schools

Facility Managers

• Share Life is Better with Clean Hands campaign materials at 

schools, camps, childcare centers, fairs, etc. 

• Use the hashtag #KeepHandsClean and follow CDC’s social 

media accounts to like, share, or comment on content 

related to Life is Better with Clean Hands. 

o Facebook (www.facebook.com/CDC) and Facebook en 

Español (www.facebook.com/CDCespanol).

o Twitter - @CDCgov (www.twitter.com/cdcgov), 

@CDCespanol (www.twitter.com/CDCespanol), and 

@CDC_NCEZID (www.twitter.com/CDC_NCEZID)

o Instagram - @CDCgov (www.instagram.com/CDCgov)

• Order FREE POSTERS and display in the kitchen and 

bathrooms to remind your family to wash their hands 

healthy habit at home and away.

• Order FREE POSTERS and display in bathrooms, gyms, 

and other places around your school.

• Share the Life is Better with Clean Hands campaign 

messages on social media. 

• Include an announcement in your school newsletter.

• Order FREE POSTERS to display in bathrooms and 

breakrooms.

• Keep bathrooms and breakrooms clean and stocked 

with soap and paper towels to encourage handwashing.

For more information and health promotion tools, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing. 

3

LIFE IS BETTER WITH
Promote CDC’s campaign Life is Better with Clean Hands and the importance of handwashing by including the announcement below 

in a newsletter, publication, email, or webpage. Use these sample newsletter blurbs as is or customize them for your networks. 

CDC has launched Life is Better with Clean Hands, a national campaign 

encouraging adults to make clean hands a healthy habit at home and away. 

Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to 

prevent the spread of germs. Studies have shown that handwashing can 

prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related sicknesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, 

such as a cold or the flu. 

Follow these five steps every time.

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the 

tap, and apply soap.

2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the 

backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the 

“Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

If soap and water aren’t available, you can use an alcohol-based hand 

sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

For a General Audience

For more information on Life is Better with Clean Hands, a campaign 

promotion toolkit, free posters, and other resources for promoting 

handwashing, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing.

For more information on Life is Better with Clean Hands, a campaign 

promotion toolkit, free posters, and other resources for promoting 

handwashing, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing.

4

SAMPLE NEWSLETTER ANNOUNCEMENTS

For Parents

CDC has launched Life is Better with Clean Hands, a national 

campaign encouraging parents to make clean hands a healthy 

habit for the whole family. 

Handwashing is an easy, inexpensive, and effective way 

to help your family stay healthy. Studies have shown that 

handwashing can prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related sicknesses 

and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu. 

When your family is healthy, you don’t have to worry about 

missing school, work, or other activities. 

Help your children make handwashing a healthy habit at 

home, school, and play by:

• Teaching kids the five easy steps for handwashing—

wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry—and the key times to 

wash hands, such as after using the bathroom or 

before eating.

• Giving frequent reminders so that handwashing becomes 

a habit and a regular part of your child’s day. 

• Leading by example by washing your hands. 

LIFE IS BETTER WITH
For People Preparing Food

CDC has launched Life is Better with Clean Hands, a national campaign 

encouraging adults to make clean hands a healthy habit at home and on 

the go. 

Handwashing is one of the most important things you can do to prevent 

food poisoning. Follow these handwashing tips to make sure you have 

clean hands when preparing food:

• Wash hands before, during, and after preparing food and before 

eating. Wash your hands often, especially during key times when 

germs can spread. Be sure to wash before preparing any food and 

after touching raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs. 

• Wash your hands the right way. Wet your hands with water before 

applying soap. Scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, 

and under your nails for at least 20 seconds before, during, and after 

handling any food. 

• Wash your hands often when you cook to prevent the spread of 

germs. Your hands can spread germs in the kitchen, so always wash 

your hands to prevent cross-contamination. 

• Wash hands before and after using gloves. Gloves can get 

contaminated with germs from your hands. Be sure to wash your 

hands before and after using gloves to prevent the spread of germs. 

5

For Office Employees

CDC has launched Life is Better with Clean Hands, a national campaign 

encouraging adults to make clean hands a healthy habit at home and 

away. 

Handwashing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and 

spreading illness to others. Germs can spread easily in offices where 

employees share the same space, supplies, and equipment. CDC 

recommends washing hands often, especially during key times when 

you are likely to get and spread germs. In workplaces, these key times 

are before eating lunch or preparing food, after using the bathroom, 

and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand 

sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol. 

LIFE IS BETTER WITH

For more information on Life is Better with Clean Hands, a campaign 

promotion toolkit, free posters, and other resources for promoting 

handwashing, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing.

For more information on Life is Better with Clean Hands, a campaign 

promotion toolkit, free posters, and other resources for promoting 

handwashing, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing.
The social media graphics below are intended for partners, organizations, and individuals to use on social media channels. Each graphic 

is available in formatting specific to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more graphics, formats, and other languages, visit CDC’s 

Life is Better with Clean Hands campaign page. 

Facebook/Twitter (1200x675)

Instagram (1080x1080)

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DIGITAL GRAPHICS

LIFE IS BETTER WITH
Add the banners below to your website and help promote Life is Better with Clean Hands and direct your audience to more handwashing 

resources. Place the graphic in the way that works best for your website.

Web Banners (300x250) Web Banners (160x600)

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LIFE IS BETTER WITH
Share CDC’s sample handwashing messages below on your social media platforms to promote the importance of handwashing. You can 

also retweet handwashing messages from @CDCgov & @CDC_NCEZID posts. 

General

• Germs are everywhere. Make handwashing with soap and water a healthy habit to protect yourself 

and your family from getting sick. https://go.usa.gov/xV9TX #KeepHandsClean

• Everything you touch has germs that stay on your hands. Make clean hands a healthy habit 

everywhere you go so you don’t get sick. https://go.usa.gov/xV9TX #KeepHandsClean

• Your hands carry germs you can’t see. Take the time to wash your hands for 20 seconds during key 

times to stay healthy. https://go.usa.gov/xV9Dc #KeepHandsClean

• Handwashing can help prevent 1 in 5 respiratory illnesses and 1 in 3 diarrheal illnesses. Learn more 

about the benefits of handwashing. https://go.usa.gov/xV9DR #KeepHandsClean

Food

• Stay healthy by making handwashing a regular part of your cooking routine. Wash hands to prevent 

spreading germs to your food and your family. https://go.usa.gov/xVNmA #KeepHandsClean

• Don’t let germs ruin your food plans. Make handwashing a healthy habit while preparing food for 

yourself and loved ones. https://go.usa.gov/xVNmA #KeepHandsClean

• Everything you touch has germs that stay on your hands. Wash your hands while preparing food so 

you don’t get sick. https://go.usa.gov/xVNmA #KeepHandsClean

• Wash your hands often when you cook to prevent the spread of germs. Be sure to wash before 

preparing any food. https://go.usa.gov/xVNmA #KeepHandsClean

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SAMPLE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

LIFE IS BETTER WITH
Parents

• Handwashing can become a lifelong healthy habit if you start teaching 

it at an early age. Give kids frequent reminders of how and when to 

wash hands. https://go.usa.gov/xV9Td #KeepHandsClean

• Help your kids develop handwashing skills and make handwashing 

a part of your family’s daily life. https://go.usa.gov/xV9Td

#KeepHandsClean

• Set an example for your children. Make handwashing part of your 

routine and teach kids the five easy steps for handwashing from an 

early age. https://go.usa.gov/xV9TP #KeepHandsClean

• When your family is healthy, you don’t have to worry about missing out 

on work, school, and other activities. Make sure you teach kids the key 

times to wash. https://go.usa.gov/xV9TP #KeepHandsClean

Life is Better with Clean Hands Campaign Promotion

• Handwashing is important for everyone! Learn about CDC’s new 

handwashing campaign and download free materials to remind people 

in your life about the importance of handwashing. https://go.usa.gov/

xVNmz #KeepHandsClean

• Need to remind yourself or others about the importance of washing 

hands? Order FREE CDC posters to place in bathrooms or kitchen areas 

as a reminder. https://go.usa.gov/xVNmz #KeepHandsClean

• CDC has launched a new national handwashing campaign! Learn 

how to make a handwashing a healthy habit in your family and keep 

everyone healthy. https://go.usa.gov/xVNmz #KeepHandsClean

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LIFE IS BETTER WITH
The following webpages provide more information and resources to help promote handwashing throughout the year.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Handwashing

Life is Better with Clean Hands Campaign

Wash Your Hands Feature

Handwashing Fact Sheets

El Lavado de las Manos

PREVENTION RESOURCES

How and When to Wash Hands 

Life is Better with Clean Hands Campaign Materials 

Free Posters

General Health Promotion Materials 

Stop Germs! Wash Your Hands

Handwashing: A Family Activity

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/campaign.html

www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/index.html

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/fact-sheets.html

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/esp/index.html

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/campaign.html

wwwn.cdc.gov/pubs/cdcinfoondemand.aspx?ProgramID=212

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/resources.html

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/pdf/wash-your-hands-fact-sheet.pdf 

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/handwashing-family.html

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ONLINE RESOURCES

LIFE IS BETTER WITH
FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 

Show Me the Science – Why Wash Your Hands

Show Me the Science – How to Wash Your Hands

Show Me the Science – When and How to Use Hand 

Sanitizer in Community Settings

Handwashing Promotion Materials

Publications, Data, & Statistics 

FOR HEALTHCARE SETTINGS

Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

Clean Hands Count Campaign

HANDWASHING AND ANIMALS

Wash Hands When Leaving Animal Exhibits

Wash Your Paws 8x11 Poster

Wash Your Paws 11x17 Poster

Poultry Handwashing Sticker

Poultry Handwashing Animated Graphic

Healthy Pet Habits

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/why-handwashing.html

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-handwashing.html

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/resources.html

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/publications-data-stats.html

www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/

www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/campaign/index.html

www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/exhibits-hand-washing.pdf

www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/Class_Pet_Poster_06-p.pdf

www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/Class_Pet_Poster_06_11x17-p.pdf

www.cdc.gov/healthypets/images/Poultry-Handwashing-Sticker_1200x600.jpg

www.cdc.gov/healthypets/images/gifs/18_299133-A_Animation-of-Hand-washing-Poultry-Graphic_v3.mp4

www.cdc.gov/healthypets/publications/healthy-pet-habits.html

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LIFE IS BETTER WITH
These monthly observances provide opportunities for you to promote handwashing through social media, listservs, or other communication 

channels throughout the year. 

January-March

• Cold and Flu Season

September

• Food Safety Education Month

May-July

• Travel Season

November-December

• Cold and Flu Season

• Holiday Season

April

• National Public Health Week

October 

• Global Handwashing Day

August

• Back to School

December

• National Handwashing 

Awareness Week

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PROMOTE HANDWASHING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

LIFE IS BETTER WITH