What should you do after taking out the trash or cleaning?

• A. Wash your hands
• B. Skip washing if hands look clean
• C. Wash only if you touched trash bags
• D. Use sanitizer spray only

Answer: (A)

After taking out the trash or doing cleaning, wash your hands with soap and running water for about 20 seconds. Even if your hands don’t look dirty, germs can be invisible, and handling trash or cleaning surfaces can transfer them to your hands. Soap and water physically remove dirt, grease, and microbes much more reliably than sanitizer alone, especially when hands are contaminated or greasy. Dry your hands with a disposable towel and use that towel to turn off the faucet to avoid recontaminating them. If water isn’t available, you can use an alcohol-based sanitizer, but it shouldn’t replace washing when hands are dirty or after cleaning tasks.