Cleaning, Disinfecting, or Sanitizing; What’s Right for You?

In the modern age of disease prevention, it is of paramount importance to know the differences between cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing, plus the benefits of each. Most people believe these terms are synonymous but don’t realize how different they are. For instance, if you are cleaning a surface that needs serious disinfecting you might be putting yourself and others at risk of contracting whatever was on the surface. Let’s begin.

Cleaning is linked to the removal of germs, dirt and other grime off of surfaces. Cleaning assists germ removal; however, it doesn’t necessarily eradicate those stubborn pathogens. Even if cleaning doesn’t kill germs, it has a positive effect on workplace productivity. Employees function better when their workplace is clean of dirt and other unpleasantries.

The next process is disinfecting. Disinfecting occurs when chemicals are applied to a surface to kill germs. The downside is after the bacteria are neutralized they remain on the surface with the other impurities. Disinfectants, such as Safetec’s SaniZide Wipes, must dwell on the surface for a proper amount of time or else they may not reach the advertised kill claim.

Finally, I’ll discuss sanitizing. Sanitization occurs when the amount of germs on a surface has been lowered to meet federal regulations. Sanitization is required on surfaces that come into contact with many nasty materials, like kitchen counters.

These three processes are essential to the cleanliness and safety of your facility. It is crucial to understand the differences between cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing, but it is more important to have the materials to carry out these tasks. Safetec manufactures top quality supplies to make sure your facility is clean, germ-free and compliant.

Resources:
https://www.thesweeper.com/news.html/cleaning-vs-disinfecting-vs-sanitizing/