What is the proper order for cleaning and sanitizing in a kitchen's three-compartment sink?

What is the proper order for cleaning and sanitizing in a kitchen's three-compartment sink?

• A. Sanitize, wash, rinse, air dry
• B. Wash with hot water and detergent, rinse, sanitize, air dry
• C. Rinse, wash, sanitize, air dry
• D. Air dry after washing

Answer: (B)

The proper sequence is washing with hot water and detergent, rinsing, sanitizing, then air drying. Washing first uses hot water and detergent to loosen and remove soil and grease so germs aren’t just trapped in dirt. Rinsing afterward clears away soap residues and loosened debris, which helps the sanitizer work effectively. Sanitizing then reduces any remaining microorganisms on the clean surface, and finally, air drying allows the items to dry without introducing new contamination. If you sanitize first, soil remains and the sanitizer isn’t used on a clean surface; skipping the rinse before sanitizing or drying without sanitizing would leave contaminants present.

The proper sequence is washing with hot water and detergent, rinsing, sanitizing, then air drying. Washing first uses hot water and detergent to loosen and remove soil and grease so germs aren’t just trapped in dirt. Rinsing afterward clears away soap residues and loosened debris, which helps the sanitizer work effectively. Sanitizing then reduces any remaining microorganisms on the clean surface, and finally, air drying allows the items to dry without introducing new contamination. If you sanitize first, soil remains and the sanitizer isn’t used on a clean surface; skipping the rinse before sanitizing or drying without sanitizing would leave contaminants present.