Cleansing your skin for knee replacement surgery

Your orthopedic doctor may have you cleanse your skin before surgery. Follow the instructions below if needed. Washing your skin with a special soap (Hibiclens®) removes bacteria on the skin and helps prevent infection. You can buy this soap at a drug store.

Skin cleansing steps

Follow these steps and cleanse your skin once in the evening before surgery and once in the morning of surgery.

Wet the washcloth and add liquid soap.
Wash your leg in the area shown below. Concentrate on this area for 5 minutes using a circular motion. If you can't wash this area yourself, have a family member help you.
Use the soapy washcloth to wash from your chin to ankles. Do not use the soap on your face.
Wash your perianal (rectum, genitals) area last.
Rinse the soap off with plain water.
Dry yourself with clean towels.
Do not apply lotions, sprays or powders to your skin after cleansing.

The area to wash with the Hibiclens soap is shaded.