What is recommended for cleaning visibly dirty hands?

• A. Soap and water
• B. Alcohol based hand sanitizers
• C. Hand sanitizer wipes
• D. Waterless hand cleansers

Answer: (A)

When hands are visibly dirty, you need to physically remove soil and microbes, and soap with water does that most effectively. Soap loosens dirt and oils and, with vigorous scrubbing, helps lift particles from the skin. Water then rinses away the loosened grime and any microbes they carry. Alcohol-based sanitizers kill germs but don’t remove visible soil, so dirt can shield microbes and reduce sanitizer effectiveness. For this reason, soap and water is the preferred method in this situation. To clean properly: wet hands, apply soap, scrub all surfaces for about 20 seconds, rinse well, and dry with a clean towel.