What is the benefit of soaking the wound in salt water after initial cleaning?

Helps draw out remaining irritants and keep tissue moist.

After the initial, critical steps of flushing and removing superficial debris have been completed, controlled soaking can continue to aid the healing process. Soaking the cleaned wound, ideally in a solution like salt water or Epsom salt solution, for defined intervals (such as 15 to 20 minutes twice daily) serves a dual purpose. First, the osmotic action of the salt solution can assist in drawing out any minute irritants or microscopic debris that were not fully removed during the initial rinsing. Second, keeping the tissue adequately moist is important for promoting healthy cellular activity and encouraging the natural healing cascade, although prolonged soaking must be avoided to prevent excessive dampness that could foster bacterial growth.