What is an essential step in preparing minor surgical instruments before they are sterilized?

Cleaning minor surgical instruments with soap and water is an essential step before sterilization because it effectively removes organic matter, debris, and contaminants from the instruments' surfaces. Proper cleaning is crucial to ensure that no remaining debris interferes with the sterilization process, as residual organic material can shelter bacteria and prevent effective sterilization.

Rinsing with distilled water does not adequately remove contaminants—it mainly serves to rinse after cleaning. Wiping with alcohol may help in surface disinfection but does not replace the thorough cleaning required to ensure that all debris is removed beforehand. Storing in a sterile environment is important after sterilization, but it is not a preparatory step for the cleaning process itself. Thus, the correct answer highlights the importance of cleaning to ensure effective sterilization and safe use of surgical instruments.