Which of the following is NOT a recommended method for disinfecting instruments?

Soaking instruments in alcohol is not considered a recommended method for disinfecting because alcohol does not achieve the necessary level of disinfection for surgical instruments. The use of alcohol can be effective for surface decontamination, but it does not adequately penetrate or kill all types of pathogens on instruments, especially when dealing with biological organic material that may be present.

On the other hand, methods such as manual cleaning with detergent, ultrasonic cleaning, and using disinfectant wipes are recognized practices in the proper disinfection and sterilization process. Manual cleaning is the first step for removing visible soil, ultrasonic cleaning enhances this process by using high-frequency sound waves to provide a more thorough cleaning, and disinfectant wipes conveniently allow for effective surface disinfection. Each of these methods is designed to ensure instruments are properly cleaned and disinfected before sterilization, an essential step in maintaining patient safety and preventing infection in medical settings.