What is the correct way to turn off a faucet after washing hands?

Using a paper towel to turn off a faucet after washing hands is the preferred method as it helps prevent recontaminating clean hands. After thoroughly washing and drying your hands, grabbing the faucet handle with a paper towel allows you to avoid coming into contact with potentially contaminated surfaces that could harbor bacteria or viruses. This practice is a crucial step in maintaining effective hand hygiene and reducing the risk of spreading pathogens.

Turning off the faucet with bare hands may expose them to contaminants on the faucet, which defeats the purpose of handwashing. Leaving the faucet running is not practical in many situations and contributes to water waste. Using the elbow is an alternative method that can be effective, particularly with motion-sensor faucets or those designed for such use, but it may not be feasible with all faucet types. Therefore, using a paper towel is commonly advocated as the safest and most hygienic option in food safety practices.