The global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has resulted in public officials and mainstream media encouraging people to wash their hands with soap as regularly as possible. The simple act of handwashing with soap remains our best defence against coronavirus, other outbreak pathogens and common global killers such as diarrhoeal diseases and respiratory infections. However, rates of handwashing with soap at critical times (such as after using the toilet or before eating) are less than 20% globally. In this guide we give you practical tips for how to encourage community-level handwashing behaviour with the aim of controlling and preventing the spread of the coronavirus.