What should you do after rinsing your hands while washing them?

After rinsing your hands, it is essential to dry them thoroughly, and using a paper towel is the most effective option. Drying your hands with a paper towel not only helps remove any remaining moisture but also reduces the number of bacteria and pathogens that can transfer to surfaces or objects you touch afterward.

Using a paper towel can also be beneficial for turning off faucets and opening doors, as it minimizes the risk of re-contaminating your hands after they have been washed. This practice contributes to overall hand hygiene and helps prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses.

Other methods, such as air drying or wiping hands on clothing, may not effectively remove residual germs and could lead to contamination. Shaking hands to dry them can spread droplets and increase the likelihood of depositing bacteria onto surfaces, which is counterproductive to the purpose of handwashing.