Final answer:
A soft, non-abrasive cloth should be used when manually cleaning stainless steel instruments to prevent scratching the surface. For optical components, a section of the wet cloth should be disposed of after a single pass to avoid damaging the surfaces with trapped debris.
Step-by-step explanation:
When manually cleaning stainless steel instruments, a soft, non-abrasive cloth should be used to avoid scratching the instrument's surface. It is important to use cleaning materials that are gentle on the instruments to maintain their integrity and functionality. If a wet cleaning method is required, using a new section of the cloth for each wipe can help prevent debris collected from previous cleaning motions from scratching the instrument.
While some cleaning materials are designed for repeated use, items like optical components need precise cleaning and thus a section of the wet cloth used should be discarded after a single pass to prevent surface scratching from trapped debris. In all cases, it is crucial to follow proper cleaning procedures, keeping the flow of water gentle and controlling the movement of the cleaning cloth to prevent damage to the instruments.