During hand hygiene, what should you do after wetting your hands?

• A. Rinse
• B. Dry
• C. Apply soap
• D. Turn off faucet

Answer: (C)

After wetting your hands, you should apply soap. Soap is needed to break down oils and lift germs from the skin so they can be washed away with water. Merely wetting hands doesn’t remove most microbes; the combination of soap and rhythmic rubbing creates a lather that traps and loosens dirt and microbes, allowing them to be rinsed off. Be sure to rub all surfaces, including between fingers, under nails, and at the backs of hands, for about 20 seconds. Then rinse under clean running water to wash away the soap and the loosened germs, dry with a clean towel, and use the towel to turn off the faucet to prevent recontamination.