What is required to make a surface safe for handling or use after disinfection?

To ensure that a surface is safe for handling or use after disinfection, it is essential that surfaces are cleaned of visible debris. This step is crucial because disinfectants are designed to work on clean surfaces. If there is any visible debris, such as hair, dust, or dirt, it can interfere with the effectiveness of the disinfectant, preventing it from properly killing germs and pathogens. Therefore, thorough cleaning is the foundational step that must be conducted prior to disinfection to achieve the desired sanitary conditions.

The other options do not encapsulate the necessary procedure for ensuring a surface's safety after disinfection. While it is important for surfaces to be dry for some disinfectants to be effective, simply being dry is not sufficient on its own. Wiping off the disinfectant immediately does not allow adequate contact time for it to be effective. Storing items in warm environments is not a standard practice associated with the disinfection process and does not ensure that surfaces are safe for use.