With the current pandemic, people are beginning to take cleaning seriously, especially as businesses and schools reopen. Given our heightened sense of awareness about the dangers of getting sick, you may have some questions about proper cleaning techniques, methods, or products. The most common question we get asked is, “What is the difference between sanitizing and disinfecting?”  Not all cleaning jobs are created equal. While some methods might seem interchangeable, there are some significant differences between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting your facility.

What is Cleaning?

Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) alongside water to remove germs from surfaces physically. The cleaning process does not necessarily kill germs, but removing them lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection. Always clean before sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing because it improves the effectiveness of each process.

What is Sanitizing?

Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. Sanitizing is done by either cleaning (which physically removes germs from surfaces) or disinfecting (which kills germs) to lower the risk of spreading infection. In general, sanitizing is a little more gentle than disinfecting.

What is Disinfecting?

Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects by using chemicals. The disinfecting process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces, but killing the germs on a surface after cleaning can further lower the risk of spreading infection. For example, using an EPA approved disinfectant to wipe down a toilet seat is considered disinfecting. You would not see any residue on the wipe afterward, but the chemicals in the disinfectant have done their job.

Contact Integrity Janitorial Cleaning Services to help you maintain a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment for your business. We also specialize in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Deep Cleaning Solutions. Contact us now to schedule a consultation!