Washing hands is an important part of a child’s routine, both at home and at school. Singing songs while washing hands is a great way to teach kids how to do this important task properly.
Some of these are best played in the background while you wash, while others are simple enough for children to memorize and sing independently.
Here are 6 hand-washing songs and rhymes, with lyrics, for toddlers and preschoolers.
1. Wash Your Hands Song – Cocomelon
This song by Cocomelon is fun and the kids can sing along to the chorus.
Here are the lyrics to the chorus.
Wash wash wash your hands
Let the bubbles do their dance
Scrub scrub scrub-a-dub
Now you’re in the clean hands club
[source]
2. Wash Your Hands Song – The Singing Walrus
This hand-washing rhyme of the same name is by The Singing Walrus and is one of the best songs to wash your hands to.
It is a bit long, but kids can memorize the chorus and repeat that as they wash their hands. It can also be played in the background as kids follow along with the actions.
Here are the lyrics:
Wash your hands, wash your hands
Everybody come along and
wash your hands!
(Repeat verse)
Show me, show me your hands,
everybody
Show me, show me your hands
– Are they dirty?
Show me, show me your hands,
everybody
Time to wash your hands
Rub, rub, rub your hands,
everybody
Rub, rub, rub your hands
– Are they soapy?
Rub, rub, rub your hands,
everybody
Time to wash your hands
And we sing
Wash your hands, wash your hands
Everybody come along and
wash your hands!
(Repeat verse 4 times)
Dry, dry, dry your hands,
everybody
Dry, dry, dry your hands
– Are they dry yet?
Dry, dry, dry your hands,
everybody
Time to wash your hands
Shake, shake, shake your hands,
everybody
Shake, shake, shake your hands
– Are they clean now?
Shake, shake, shake your hands,
everybody
Time to wash your hands
And we sing
Wash your hands, wash your hands
Everybody come along and
wash your hands!
(Repeat verse 4 times)
Before you eat
wash your hands!
When you come home
wash your hands!
In the bathroom
wash your hands!
After you play
wash your hands!
Wash your hands, wash your hands
Everybody come along and
wash your hands!
(Repeat verse 4 times)
[source]
3. The Handwashing Song – The Wiggles
The Handwashing Song by The Wiggles is a fun version to let kids watch while they clean their hands.
Apparently, in the original version, the Wiggles washed to 15 counts, but since 2020 the number has been updated to 20.
Here are the lyrics:
Before you eat food
After you play with animals
And after you use the toilet
Wash your hands
Wet your hands
Use liquid soap
Lather your hands
And rub them round
And count to twenty… ready?
1, 2, 3, 4
5, 6, 7, 8
9, 10, 11, 12
13, 14, 15, 16
17, 18, 19, 20
Rinse your hands,
Towel or air them dry
Turn off the tap
With a towel or your sleeve
Now your hands are clean
Wet your hands
Use liquid soap
Lather your hands
And rub them round
Emma: And count to twenty… ready?
1, 2, 3, 4
5, 6, 7, 8
9, 10, 11, 12
13, 14, 15, 16
17, 18, 19, 20
Rinse your hands,
Towel or air them dry
Turn off the tap
With a towel or your sleeve
Now your hands are clean
[source]
4. Wash Your Hands with Baby Shark
This song by PinkFonk is probably the easiest song to teach your kids. They just need to remember a few actions and throw in a whole lot of doo, doo, doos.
Here are the lyrics:
Wash your hands,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Wash your hands,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Wash your hands,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Wash your hands!
Grab some soap,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Grab some soap,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Grab some soap,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Grab some soap!
Rub your hands,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Rub your hands,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Rub your hands,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Rub your hands!
Rinse your hands,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Rinse your hands,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Rinse your hands,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Rinse your hands!
Dry your hands,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Dry your hands,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Dry your hands,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Dry your hands!
“What else can we do?”
Cover your sneeze,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Cover your sneeze,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Cover your sneeze,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Cover your sneeze,
Cough into your elbow,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Cough into your elbow,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Cough into your elbow,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Cough into your elbow!
Safe at last,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Safe at last,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Safe at last,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Safe at last!
Let’s stay healthy,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Let’s stay healthy,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
Let’s stay healthy,
Doo doo doo doo doo.
“Let’s stay healthy!”
“Oh, yeah!”
[source]
5. Wash My Hands Rap – Jack Hartmann
Teach your kids this fun rap by Jack Hartmann. This song is not really one to memorize, but rather to play for your kids to educate them about good hand-washing practices.
Sing along to the chorus:
Wash, wash, wash my hands, do the wash my hands rap
Wash, wash, wash my hands, do the wash my hands rap
6. Wash Your Hands – The Manatee Man
This is another cute handwashing song, by Gary Pane.
Here are the lyrics:
You were out playing in the dirt at recess
You look at your hands and say “What a big mess.”
Your hands are dirty and full of germs
You were even touching some beetles and some worms
You better wash your hands
You better wash your hands
You better wash your hands
And use plenty of soap
I said wash those hands
I said wash those hands
Wash those hands
And use plenty of soap
Smog produced by a million cars lands on the swings and the monkey bars
Germs all over the playground stuff
Your immune system says, “I’ve had enough”
You better wash your hands
You better wash your hands
You better wash your hands
And use plenty of soap
I said wash those hands
I said wash those hands
Wash those hands
And use plenty of soap
You can avoid the flu
You can take care of you
This ain’t nothing new
It’s something that you gotta do
You don’t want E coli
I ain’t telling no lie
Keep hands sterilized and live a better life
Staph bacteria
In your cafeteria
As bad as Diphtheria
You should take it serious
And Doorknobs are bad
They’re a germ launch pad
Just wash your hands
And you’ll always be glad
Just wash your hands
And you’ll always be glad
You better wash your hands
You better wash your hands
You better wash your hands
And use plenty of soap
I said wash those hands
I said wash those hands
Wash those hands
And use plenty of soap
[source]
I hope you’ve enjoyed these washing hands songs.
Need some songs to get your kids to help tidy up? Here are great songs for clean-up time.
Or check out this cool list of the best preschool songs.
