Teaching Hand Washing with UV Light
Materials: ★★★ Requires materials not commonly found in school laboratories
Difficulty: ★☆☆ Can be easily done by most teenagers
Safety: ★☆☆ Minimal safety procedures required
Categories: Disease, Lab Skills and Safety
Alternative titles: Glow Germ Hand Hygiene Demonstration
Summary
Students apply a special hand wash training lotion that glows under UV light, then wash their hands. Areas that were not washed thoroughly will still glow, providing a visual demonstration of the importance of using soap and washing all parts of the hands.
Procedure
- Provide each participant with a small amount of hand wash training lotion (such as GlitterBug, GermJuice, or GloGerm).
- Have participants rub the lotion thoroughly over their hands, including around nails and between fingers.
- Ask participants to wash their hands with water only, then check under a UV light to observe glowing areas.
- Repeat with proper hand washing using soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Observe under UV light again to compare results; fewer glowing areas show improved washing.
- Optionally, allow children to interact or play briefly before checking under UV light to see how often they touch their faces.
Links
Kids Explain: A blacklight experiment on hand washing - The Oregonian:
How To See Germs Spread Experiment (Coronavirus) - Mark Rober:
📄 Teaching Hand Washing To Children - Using A UV Light - How We Montessori: https://www.howwemontessori.com/how-we-montessori/2020/03/teaching-hand-washing-to-children-using-a-uv-light.html
Variations
- Test washing with water only vs. soap and water.
- Compare quick hand washing with a full 20-second wash.
- Check for glowing marks on the face after playing to demonstrate how germs spread by touch.
- Use this activity in group lessons at schools or assemblies for a stronger impact.
Safety Precautions
- Ensure the training lotion used is non-toxic and safe for skin.
- Check for allergies before applying lotion.
- Supervise the use of UV lights—do not shine directly into eyes.
- Have children wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after the activity.
Questions to Consider
- What parts of the hands are most often missed when washing? (Usually around nails, between fingers, and sides of hands.)
- Why does washing with soap work better than just water? (Soap breaks down oils and helps lift microbes off the skin.)
- Why is it important to wash for 20 seconds? (It allows enough time to scrub all areas and effectively remove germs.)
- How does touching your face spread germs? (Germs transfer from hands to mouth, nose, or eyes, where they can cause infection.)