CLEANING VS. SANITIZING VS. DISINFECTING: HOW DO THEY DIFFER?
Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are distinct processes, playing crucial roles in maintaining a safe business environment for employees and visitors alike. Whether you cater to customers, clients, patients, or students, ensuring a clean and disinfected workspace is essential for everyone's well-being. Here's a breakdown of each process:
- Cleaning removes dust, dirt, and debris from surfaces but does not necessarily eliminate germs.
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- Sanitizing reduces the number of germs on surfaces by either cleaning or disinfecting.
- Disinfecting specifically kills germs using chemicals. While it doesn’t physically remove them, it helps reduce the risk of infection spread.
What Is Cleaning?
Cleaning is the process of eliminating dirt, organic matter, and germs from a surface. It typically involves washing or scrubbing with water combined with soaps, detergents, solvents, or enzymes. A research-backed fact about microfiber mops is that they can remove up to 99% of bacteria from surfaces using only water, according to a study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
While cleaning can greatly reduce the number of germs and minimize the risk of pathogens, it doesn’t ensure a surface is completely safe. Some harmful germs may still remain. This is why cleaning is typically the first step in the process, followed by disinfecting for thorough germ elimination.
When To Clean Your Facility Or Business
The EPA advises regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces like door handles, desks, and phones to prevent contamination. The more a surface is used, the more often it should be cleaned. Visibly dirty areas should be addressed immediately, though some cleaning habits may need reinforcement.
Customer-facing keypads can become visibly dirty quickly, making customers uneasy about touching them. Restrooms should be cleaned at least once a day. Carpets should be vacuumed daily, with professional cleanings scheduled from twice a year to twice a month.
What Is Sanitizing?
Sanitization lowers bacterial contamination to safe levels as defined by public health standards. According to the CDC, a sanitizer must eliminate 99.999% of a specific test bacterium within 30 seconds. It works by either removing or killing germs and should only be applied to pre-cleaned surfaces.
Sanitizing and disinfecting serve different purposes. Sanitization is less intensive but rapidly kills bacteria, making it essential in industries like food service, where surfaces must be sanitized after use. When time or resources are limited, lowering bacteria to safe levels can still make a significant difference.
Sanitization is commonly done using chlorine or quaternary ammonium-based solutions. To be effective, the sanitizer must remain on the surface for at least 30 seconds—a crucial step that is often overlooked.
Sanitization has a key limitation: although it effectively eliminates bacteria quickly, it doesn’t address fungal growth or viruses. While it’s a fast way to reduce pathogens, it doesn’t provide protection against all types.
When To Sanitize Your Facility
Sanitizing is a quick and convenient way to reduce bacteria as part of your regular routine. However, not all sanitizers are effective against viruses, so they shouldn’t be the sole method for eliminating germs.
When should you use sanitizers? They’re ideal for high-touch surfaces between disinfections, such as keyboards, desks, or phones. While sanitization enhances cleanliness, it doesn’t replace routine cleaning and disinfecting.
Sanitizers are also useful for low-traffic areas, like long-term storage spaces, where frequent disinfection isn’t necessary. Additionally, they’re a good option for materials that can’t tolerate harsh disinfectants—such as your hands. Hand sanitizer helps maintain hygiene, but EPA-registered surface disinfectants should never be applied to the skin.
What Is Disinfecting?
The EPA approves disinfectants to eliminate 99.9999% of pathogens. These products meet stricter standards than sanitizers, targeting viruses—not just bacteria. Disinfection can be achieved through chemical agents or physical methods, such as heat.
The EPA puts disinfectants into several categories:
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Limited disinfectants target specific microorganisms. For example, they may eliminate bacteria that cause staph infections but not those responsible for salmonella.
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General disinfectants, or broad-spectrum disinfectants, are effective against multiple bacteria, making them suitable for everyday use in homes and businesses.
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Hospital disinfectants target a wider range of pathogens. They are specifically formulated for use in healthcare settings like hospitals, clinics, and dental offices.
You may also come across sterilants, which are designed to eliminate viruses and fungi. Sterilization completely eradicates all microorganisms rather than just reducing harmful ones. Another classification to note is tuberculocides, which kill the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. These disinfectants are significant because tuberculosis is particularly difficult to eliminate.
Regular disinfection plays a key role in maintaining a clean workplace and preventing the spread of infectious diseases. High-touch surfaces should be disinfected at least once a day, but only after they have been cleaned.
For non-healthcare businesses, disinfection can be done as needed—there’s no requirement to sanitize every surface constantly. However, disinfecting frequently touched areas remains essential for reducing disease transmission. Keeping surfaces clean is a simple yet effective way to protect employees, who are essential to your business.
Why Are Cleaning, Disinfecting, And Sanitizing Important?
Maintaining a pathogen-free workplace is essential for protecting your customers, clients, and employees. It also helps prevent lost productivity, business disruptions, and potential liability issues.
While the legal landscape around COVID-19 liability is still evolving, the risks of workplace illness go beyond legal concerns. Sick employees can lead to staffing shortages and increased training costs, while a poorly managed outbreak can damage your business’s reputation and erode trust among both customers and staff—consequences that legislation can’t fix.
Beyond COVID-19, proper hygiene practices help prevent the spread of illnesses like salmonella, influenza, rhinovirus, and staph infections. A clean, safe environment fosters trust and confidence among employees and customers.
How Can You Properly Clean, Disinfect, And Sanitize?
Keeping your workplace clean and safe requires ongoing research, as guidelines evolve frequently based on new findings about COVID-19 and other viruses. Initially, surface cleaning was the priority, but updated research highlights the importance of proper PPE and strict protocols to prevent exposure.
Using EPA-approved disinfectants is essential, particularly those effective against COVID-19 or emerging pathogens. In some environments, rotating disinfectants may be necessary to prevent resistant strains from developing.
Different businesses have unique cleaning needs based on their customer interactions. Restaurants must disinfect tables after each use, while warehouses may only require disinfection after shifts. Identifying high-touch areas specific to your industry ensures effective cleaning.
The scale of your business also impacts cleaning frequency. Small businesses may disinfect daily, while larger companies need structured and professional cleaning teams to prevent outbreaks and potential liabilities.
Investing in specialized equipment like electrostatic sprayers can enhance disinfection, but their effectiveness depends on proper handling. Unless staff are trained, purchasing such equipment may not be the most efficient use of resources.
Looking for Expert Cleaning & Sanitization? Get a Free Estimate Today!
For a thorough and professional cleaning, trust the experts at A&M Cleaning Solutions. We provide comprehensive cleaning and disinfection services tailored to your business, using health-grade disinfectants and industry-trained professionals. Our team brings expertise backed by research, training, and experience, ensuring your workspace remains safe and hygienic. With the right tools and EPA-approved disinfectants, we take the guesswork out of maintaining a clean environment.
Contact A&M Cleaning Solutions today to schedule a service. Whether you need event cleanup, warehouse sanitation, or routine janitorial services, we’ve got you covered. Our team is ready to help protect your business, employees, and customers with reliable, professional cleaning solutions.
