During hand washing, which action should you avoid?

• A. Touching the sink
• B. Rinsing under running water
• C. Using clean towels
• D. Using soap

Answer: (A)

During hand washing, the main concept is to avoid recontaminating your hands after you’ve cleaned them. Touching the sink or faucet while you’re washing can transfer germs from the sink back onto your hands, undoing the effect of the wash. That’s why you should keep your hands away from the sink while lathering and scrubbing, and use a clean towel to turn off the faucet after drying. Rinsing under running water helps remove the soap and loosened germs, using soap is essential to break down oils and microbes, and drying with a clean towel helps prevent picking up germs again.