When hands are visibly dirty, what is recommended?

• A. Plain soap and water only without sanitizer
• B. An acceptable antimicrobial cleanser from a liquid dispenser
• C. A dry cloth
• D. A sanitizer gel without water

Answer: (B)

When hands are visibly dirty, you need to physically remove the grime with soap and running water. Soap loosens dirt and oils, and water carries them away, reducing the microbial load effectively. Hand sanitizers, even antimicrobial ones, don’t reliably remove visible soil, so they aren’t a substitute in this situation. A dry cloth can’t remove microbes, and using sanitizer gel without water won’t address the dirt you can see. So the recommended action is to wash with plain soap and water. If washing isn’t possible, sanitize should not replace cleaning once soil is present, but policy may dictate steps after washing.