What should not be touched until properly cooled?

Sterile trays should not be touched until they have properly cooled to ensure patient safety and maintain sterility. When items are sterilized, they are subjected to high temperatures that kill microorganisms and ensure the instruments are safe for use in a medical setting. Handling these trays while they are still hot can lead to burns or other injuries, and it can also compromise the integrity of the sterile barrier if moisture condenses on the trays or if they are disturbed before they cool.

In the context of other options, used instruments are handled after a specific cleaning process to prepare for reprocessing, cleaning tools are meant for cleaning surfaces and devices and should be used when needed, and storage containers can typically be handled as needed to organize or store items. However, sterile trays must remain undisturbed until they have reached a safe temperature to maintain both their sterility and the safety of the person handling them.