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Handwashing steps for children – free printable picture cards

Six picture cards show handwashing step by step: water, soap, scrub, rinse and dry. Download a free A4 sheet without an account and display it by the sink. Help your child as needed.

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Created by Pictofy · Updated

6 cards, one step at a time

Noah washes his hands in six steps. The cards fit at child height by the sink – at home, in nursery and at school.

  1. Pictogram of Noah turning on the tap – step 1 of washing hands
    Turn on the tap
  2. Pictogram of Noah holding his hands under running water – step 2 of washing hands
    Wet hands
  3. Pictogram of Noah pressing the soap dispenser – step 3 of washing hands
    Use soap
  4. Pictogram of Noah rubbing his foamy hands together – step 4 of washing hands
    Rub hands
  5. Pictogram of Noah rinsing the soap off under the tap – step 5 of washing hands
    Rinse
  6. Pictogram of Noah drying his hands on a towel – step 6 of washing hands
    Dry hands
Card with Noah
Personal card · example

Want to try cards with your own character?

Choose the character's features or use a photo, then preview three sample cards free on screen. The picture is an example; you create your own character.

See 3 cards with your own child free on screen →

No account · Photo optional · Full Starter Pack sold separately as a one-off purchase

Print the cards

All 6 cards on one A4 sheet with names underneath, ready to cut out. To swap a card or change a label, open the sheet in the editor first.

  1. Print on A4 at 100%. Protect the sheet from splashes, for example by laminating it.
  2. Hang the sheet or the cards by the sink at the child's eye level.
  3. Go through the cards together and help as needed. Scrub with soap for at least 20 seconds, then rinse and dry.

Try the method on this page · 2 steps at a time

See how the cards work on a Now & Next board

When the full sequence feels like too much at once, show just two cards: what we are doing Now and what comes Next. Click Done with Now to test the transition.

1 · NOW

Turn on the tap

2 · NEXT

Wet hands

Waiting calmly until Now is finished

Example using the free cards. Choose the activities that fit your day.

Why six small pictures work better than a single reminder

When told to wash their hands, children often skip the soap, rush rinsing or forget to dry their hands. Hanging the sequence right above the sink lets the child check each micro-step independently.

Slip the printed A4 sheet into a clear plastic sleeve or laminate it so it handles splashes every day.

Making the 20-second soap scrub concrete

The fourth card (Rub hands) is where soap covers the backs of the hands, between the fingers and thumbs. Pairing this card with a short familiar song or a sand timer makes it clear when it is time to rinse.

Use the same sheet at home, nursery and school

The free A4 sheet may be printed freely for homes, nurseries and classrooms. Open Edit the cards before printing to change Dry hands to Paper towel if that matches your sink.

Free sheet or your own character?

Free A4 sheet with Noah

Free

  • Use the existing example cards.
  • Edit labels, cards and order before printing.
  • Print free without an account.
Edit the Noah cards free

Starter Pack with your own character

One-off purchase

  • Choose two personal pictogram packs.
  • Build the character yourself or use a photo. Photos are optional.
  • Digital cards for printing and screens. No subscription.
See the Starter Pack and local price →

How we process photos and characters

Questions about the material

How long should you rub?

CDC recommends scrubbing with soap for at least 20 seconds. Include the backs of the hands, between the fingers and under the nails. You can use a timer and help with any difficult steps.

May we use the sheet in a nursery or school?

Yes, the free sheet may be printed and hung wherever you work with children. It may not be resold.

Can the cards show the child themselves?

Yes. Build a character without a photo, or use a photo as a starting point. See options and prices in the starter pack. The privacy policy explains how photos and characters are processed.

Background sources for the guidance. Pictofy created the cards and examples; these sources do not endorse the materials.

More free routines

Also read: pictograms for children · weekly schedule with pictograms