The Hand Washing Tippy Tap

Hand washing is among the most important but most ignored virtues in people’s lives. The subject is that important because it is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to prevent a number of communicable diseases; basing on the connotation “prevention is better than cure”. Because of that, it may seem obvious: everyone washing hands wherever need be…. Aaww!!!, maybe the obvious is not just obvious. Most of us find it hard to wash hands. Maybe water and soap are never readily available, maybe we are just lazy!

A tippy tap provides a solution for the laziness, forgetfulness, lack of interest and lack of the necessary resources for one to wash hands wherever need be. A tippy tap is a hand washing structure made up of 3 sticks, a jerry can, gorse wire and soap.

The steps involved

Get 3 sticks: 2 Y-shaped, 1 should be straight.

Measure off the Y-shaped sticks to 7 feet and the straight stick at 5 feet.

Get a nail (between 4 to 6 inches). Heat it with fire.

Use the hot nail to make 2 holes with the 6 inch nail or 3 hole with the 5 inch nail or 4 holes with the 4 inch nail near the pouring point of the jerrycan. Make 1 extra hole at the pouring point of the jerrycan. Tie up gorse wire in the last hole. At the other end of the gorse, put there a weight- most probably a short stick. Tie up another gorse wire at the handle leaving an extra free piece.

Dig two holes 4.5 feet.

Place the 2 Y-shaped sticks in the holes and fill the holes with stones and soil.

Place the straight stick on the standing sticks. Tie it up with gorse wire

Using the extra piece of gorse wire from the handle to tie the jerrycan on the straight stick.

Get a piece of soap. Use the nail to put a hole through the soap. Use gorse wire to tie the soap on the straight stick.

Use the now complete tippy tap.

#blog