When should you wash your hands with soap and water rather than using hand sanitizer?

Washing hands with soap and water is essential in specific situations to effectively remove germs and contaminants. The correct response highlights that hands should be thoroughly washed after using the restroom, before eating, and after handling raw food. This is primarily because these situations involve potential exposure to harmful pathogens that can lead to foodborne illnesses or infection.

Using soap and water is more effective than hand sanitizer in these scenarios because it can remove not only germs but also physical debris or soil from the skin. For instance, after handling raw food, there could be bacteria present that sanitizer alone might not eliminate completely unless hands are cleaned properly. Similarly, washing hands after using the restroom helps ensure any pathogens that could be present are thoroughly washed away, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and maintaining food safety standards.

Situations like sneezing or coughing, while critical for hygiene, may not always involve direct contamination that requires washing with soap and water instead of using sanitizer. Similarly, the use of hand sanitizer is generally acceptable when hands are not visibly dirty, but it is not as effective when there has been significant contamination or before consuming food.