Which aspect of hand washing is most effective when there is visible dirt on the hands?

Question

1. Using hot water instead of warm water
2. Using plenty of lather with friction
3. Drying the hands vigorously from wrists to fingers
4. Applying lotion to the hands

Answer 1

2
Rationale 1: Using hot water can dry out the skin and lead to infection.
Rationale 2: Lathering the hands with the cleansing agent using friction is the best method to remove dirt and transient bacteria.
Rationale 3: Drying the hands vigorously from wrists to fingers helps keep skin intact but does nothing for visible dirt.
Rationale 4: Lotion will not help in decreasing the visible dirt.
Global Rationale: Lathering the hands with the cleansing agent using friction is the best method to remove dirt and transient bacteria. Using hot water can dry out the skin and lead to infection. Although using plenty of lather with friction is important, this will not help in decreasing the visible dirt. Drying the hands vigorously from wrists to fingers helps keep skin intact but does nothing for visible dirt.