How much alcohol foam should you use to wash your hands if not visibly soiled?

Using an appropriate amount of alcohol foam for hand hygiene is crucial, especially when hands are not visibly soiled. The recommended quantity for effective hand sanitization is typically around the size of a quarter. This amount ensures that the foam can cover all surfaces of the hands thoroughly, including in between fingers and under the nails, which is essential for killing pathogens effectively.

Using a dime-sized amount might not provide enough coverage to ensure complete sanitization. A nickel-sized amount would also likely fall short of adequately covering both hands. A half dollar-sized amount could lead to wastage, as it may be more than necessary for effective hand hygiene. Thus, choosing the quarter-sized amount strikes the right balance between effectiveness and efficiency in ensuring hands are cleaned properly without excessive waste.