Act of cleansing one's hand with soap and water to remove viruses, bacteria, microorganisms, dirt, or other substances.

• A. Hand Washing
• B. Hand Care
• C. Hand Hygiene
• D. Hand Sanitizing

Answer: (A)

Hand washing is the act of cleansing the hands with soap and water to remove viruses, bacteria, microorganisms, dirt, or other substances. Soap helps lift oils and germs from the skin, and rinsing washes them away, making this method especially effective when hands are visibly dirty or contaminated. This practice reduces the spread of infections and is a fundamental step in infection control, particularly before patient contact and after direct care.

Hand hygiene is the broader term for keeping hands clean, which includes both hand washing and hand sanitizing. Hand sanitizing uses an alcohol-based product to reduce germs but doesn’t remove dirt or visible soil as effectively as soap and water. Hand care refers to skin health and maintenance, not the cleaning of germs.