Which process describes removing dirt, dust, blood, or other visible contaminants from a surface?

• A. Cleaning
• B. Disinfection
• C. Sterilization
• D. Discard

Answer: (A)

Removing dirt, dust, blood, or other visible contaminants from a surface is cleaning. Cleaning uses soap, detergents, and scrubbing to physically lift and wash away soils, which helps reduce what’s on the surface and makes it easier for later steps to work. Disinfection and sterilization are about reducing or eliminating microorganisms, not just removing visible dirt—disinfection lowers microbial counts, and sterilization destroys all microbes and spores. Discard isn’t a cleaning process either. So cleaning is the correct term because it focuses on physically removing visible contaminants from the surface.