Which is the correct order of the five steps of proper handwashing?

• A. Wet hands, lather with soap, scrub for 10–15 seconds, rinse, dry with a disposable towel
• B. Wet hands, rinse, soap, scrub, dry
• C. Wet hands, scrub for 5 seconds, rinse, dry
• D. Lather with soap, wet hands, rinse, scrub

Answer: (A)

Proper handwashing works best when you follow the steps in a specific order to physically remove germs. Start by wetting your hands with clean running water, then apply soap and lather to create friction. Scrub all hand surfaces for about 10–15 seconds to dislodge dirt and microbes, then rinse thoroughly to wash away the soap and loosened particles. Finally, dry your hands completely with a disposable towel to prevent recontamination. This sequence matches the option that lists wet, lather with soap, scrub for 10–15 seconds, rinse, and dry with a disposable towel. Rinsing before soap, scrubbing for too short a time, or starting with lather without wetting first wouldn't effectively remove germs or follow proper procedure.