During cleaning and sanitizing, which step comes immediately after rinsing?

• A. Wipe with towel.
• B. Wash with soap and water.
• C. Sanitize.
• D. Air-dry.

Answer: (C)

The step after rinsing is sanitizing. After soap and debris are washed away, applying a sanitizer is needed to kill any remaining germs on the surface to safe levels. The sanitizer must stay on the surface for its required contact time, then the surface is allowed to air dry (or dried with a clean towel if the protocol allows). Wiping with a towel right after rinsing isn’t the next step because it can spread germs or remove the sanitizer’s effect, and washing with soap and water happens before rinsing, while air-drying is typically done after sanitizing, not immediately after rinsing.