Touching the sink, faucet, or any non-sterile surface during the surgical scrub can contaminate the hands or forearms. Even after careful scrubbing, these surfaces may still contain microorganisms. If the clean skin touches the sink, bacteria can be transferred back onto the hands or arms. This breaks the sterile technique and increases the risk of contamination before entering the operating room. If accidental contact happens, the surgical scrub may need to be repeated from the beginning.