For effective sanitization, a barber should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. This duration is recommended by health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to ensure that all surfaces of the hands are thoroughly cleaned. Proper handwashing involves using soap and water, lathering the soap, and making sure to clean all areas, including between the fingers and under the nails.
Washing for this length of time significantly reduces the number of germs and bacteria present on the hands, which is particularly important in a barbershop environment where hygiene is crucial to prevent the spread of infections. Other durations, such as 10 seconds, may not be sufficient for effective sanitization, and longer durations like 30 seconds or 1 minute, while possibly beneficial in certain situations, can be impractical for routine handwashing in a busy barbershop context. Therefore, 20 seconds strikes an effective balance between thoroughness and efficiency.