True or False: Some porous items can be safely cleaned, disinfected, and used on more than one client.

• A. True
• B. Not sure
• C. Sometimes
• D. False

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is that reuse between clients is possible for certain porous items if they can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between uses. Porous items, like towels or linens, can harbor more microbes because their fibers trap moisture and debris, so simply wiping them isn’t enough. When these items are washable and can withstand the cleaning process, they can be laundered with hot water and detergent (and appropriate sanitizing steps if required), dried completely, and then used again for another client. This is why the statement is true: there are porous items that are designed to be cleaned and disinfected between clients and reused, as long as the cleaning and disinfection procedures are properly followed and the item is not contaminated with blood or other body fluids beyond what cleaning can handle. If an item cannot be thoroughly cleaned or disinfected or has been contaminated in a way that laundering won’t reliably remove all pathogens, it should be disposed of after a single use.