Patient Guide 
Key Information for Your Stay
Washing With CHG

Washing With CHG

Prevent Infections With Chlorhexidine (CHG)

During your stay, a special antiseptic called CHG, which removes germs and prevents infection better than soap and water, may be used. You may wash with CHG in the shower or be bathed with wipes or cloths.

Protect Yourself With CHG

CHG is proven to work better than regular soap to get rid of germs. Once massaged onto the skin, CHG works to kill germs for 24 hours. It is safe on rashes, burns and wounds that are not large or deep.



When washing with CHG soap or cloths, be thorough. Ask for help with hard-to-reach areas, including the backside, around devices and on wounds. Be sure to wash with CHG every day. Starting on the admission day works best to remove germs before IVs, lines, urinary catheters, and procedures or surgery.

Showering With CHG Soap

If your nurse tells you to take CHG showers, he or she will give you a 4 oz CHG bottle to wash your hair, face and body. Then follow these instructions:

 

  1. Begin with your hair and face, then rinse. Avoid your eyes and ear canals.
  2. Apply a generous amount of CHG to a mesh sponge or non-cotton cloth and rub until foamy.
  3. Apply CHG with the water turned off or stand out of water stream.
  4. Firmly massage onto skin. Clean from top down (cleanest to dirtiest areas). Reapply CHG to keep sponge foamy.
  5. Ask for help with hard-to-reach areas.
  6. For best effect, leave soapy lather on skin for 2 minutes. Rinse body well.
  7. If needed, ask your nurse for CHG-compatible lotions to moisturize. 

Reminders When Showering

Regular soap and shampoo prevent CHG from working well. If you must use your own shampoo and face wash, use them first and try to keep the shampoo and face wash off the body so CHG will work as body soap.

Bathing With CHG Cloths

Your nurse may want you to be bathed with no-rinse CHG cloths instead of a shower. Each packet has six cloths to be used on all skin areas. Feel free to use all six cloths, and ask for more if needed.



  1. Firmly massage onto all skin areas to ensure deep cleaning of the skin. Avoid eyes and ear canals.
  2. Clean over non-gauze dressings.
  3. Your nurse will clean parts of lines, tubes and drains nearest to the body.
  4. Throw cloths away in the trash. Do not flush cloths down the toilet.

Reminders When Bathing

CHG is less drying than soap. CHG cloths have aloe and are good for your skin. Your skin may feel sticky for a few minutes after applying due to the aloe vera, but don’t rinse. Once massaged onto the skin, CHG works to kill germs for 24 hours.


Clean the first 6 inches of lines, drains and tubes coming from your body. Ask for help if needed.

Important Areas to Clean

Clean all skin areas with attention to:

  • neck
  • all skin folds
  • skin around all devices (tubes/drains)
  • wounds and open skin
  • armpits, groin, between fingers/toes

Avoid Eyes and Ear Canals

It's important to clean all over your skin to prevent infections, but be sure to avoid getting CHG in your eyes and ear canals.

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