What is the difference between cleaning disinfecting and sanitizing

Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. This process works by either cleaning or disinfecting surfaces or objects to lower the risk of spreading infection. Typically, this means daily sanitizing surfaces and objects that are touched often, such as desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, hands-on learning items, faucet handles, phones, and toys.

Some schools may also require daily disinfecting these items. Standard procedures often call for disinfecting specific areas of the school, like bathrooms. Immediately clean surfaces and objects that are visibly soiled. If surfaces or objects are soiled with body fluids or blood, use gloves and other standard precautions to avoid coming into contact with the fluid.

Remove the spill, and then clean and disinfect the surface. Top of Page. It is important to match your cleaning and disinfecting activities to the types of germs you want to remove or kill.

Most studies have shown that the flu virus can live and potentially infect a person for up to 48 hours after being deposited on a surface. However, it is not necessary to close schools to clean or disinfect every surface in the building to slow the spread of flu. It does not necessarily mean that the presence of germs is totally eradicated, but rather that they are not numerous enough to cause immediate health concerns. A professional biohazard remediation and infectious disease disinfection company should guarantee disinfection, not sanitization.

Sanitization does not remove the threat posed by viruses and infectious diseases. Upon completion of any remediation job, verifiable surface testing should be done. For bacteria or germs, using adenosine triphosphate ATP testing technology can guarantee hospital-level standards of disinfection. This process can be done pre or post-disinfection and is recommended to be performed on a regularly scheduled basis after preventative disinfection. Aftermath Services has over 20 years of experience in biohazard remediation, crime scene cleanup, and virucidal disinfection.

We are dedicated to helping people get on the road to recovery by fully disinfecting affected properties in unsafe living conditions, including unattended deaths , homicides, suicides and coronavirus. A qualified biohazard remediation provider should always have the appropriate licenses and certificates readily available upon request. View our Point Checklist and learn what to look for when selecting a professional remediation company. Contact us for rapid response assistance across the U.

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You might use a dishwasher to sanitize the dishes. Or you could be using an antibacterial wipe on a tv remote. Which surfaces and objects do I need to clean and disinfect?

How can I safely clean and disinfect? It's important to be safe when using cleaning and disinfecting products: Store them in the containers they came in. Always follow the instructions and pay attention to the warnings on the label. Do not mix cleaners and disinfectants unless the labels say that it is safe to do so. Combining certain products such as chlorine bleach and ammonia cleaners can cause serious injury or even death. Start Here.

Environmental Protection Agency. Related Issues. Videos and Tutorials. Sanitizing a surface makes that surface sanitary or free of visible dirt contaminants that could affect your health.

Sanitizing is meant to reduce, not kill, the occurrence and growth of bacteria, viruses and fungi. Cleaning alone will always contribute favorably to the health of indoor occupants because allergens and microorganisms are being removed from the surfaces of the indoor environment.

The problem, however, is the risk of cross-contamination. The mopping solution and the cleaning tools could be spreading disease in the absence of a germicide.

Sanitizing is better than cleaning alone but the reduction of pathogen populations on environmental surfaces is exponentially better when you disinfect. The minimum level of effectiveness in a modern-day disinfectant is percent kill of 6 log10 of an organism. A sanitizer is only required to reduce that 6 log10 down to 3 Log We can put that into real numbers. If we start with 1 million organisms on a surface then a disinfectant must kill percent of them; zero left.