Which of the following methods removes small organic particles and soil from the box locks and ratchets of instruments?

The ultrasonic washer is specifically designed to effectively remove small organic particles and soil from intricate areas, such as box locks and ratchets of surgical instruments. This method uses high-frequency sound waves that create microscopic bubbles in a cleaning solution. When these bubbles collapse, they generate a strong cleaning action that dislodges debris from nooks and crannies that are hard to reach by other means. The use of ultrasonic cleaning is especially important in surgical settings where ensuring the sterility and cleanliness of instruments is critical for preventing infections.

Manual cleaning, while also effective, can struggle to reach the fine details and crevices that require thorough cleaning. Although washer-sterilizers are designed to clean and sterilize instruments, they may not provide the same level of agitation and detail cleaning as an ultrasonic washer. Enzymatic soaks help break down organic matter but are typically used as a pre-cleaning step rather than as a primary cleaning method for dislodging particles from complex designs like box locks and ratchets. Therefore, the ultrasonic washer is the ideal method for such specific cleaning tasks within surgical instrument maintenance.