Not the methods of cleaning are the same. While some methods may seem interchangeable, there are actually some important differences between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing your home.
During cleaning, we remove unnecessary items and wipe down surfaces (e.g., floors, countertops, shelves) to keep them looking neat and spotless. All-purpose cleaners are designed to remove visible stains and debris from surfaces. Cleaners can potentially remove germs from surfaces (along with dirt and other organic materials) and wash them away, but the purpose of cleaning is to give a decent appearance. Such cleaning alone does not kill germs, bacteria, viruses or fungi.
Sanitizing vs disinfecting
The difference between disinfecting and sanitizing comes down to semantics. Both aim to reduce the amount of contamination present on surfaces by killing germs, but disinfection, by definition, kills more germs than sanitization. Manufacturers use the word “disinfection” to refer to a product or device that reduces germs on surfaces by 99.9%, a level considered safe by public health standards.
They use the word “disinfection” for chemical products designed to “kill virtually all pathogens” on surfaces.
When to sanitize
Sanitizing is necessary for surfaces that come in contact with food. Created with pathogens that reduce germs and fungi, sanitizing sprays will make your surfaces safe to touch again.
You can also sanitize without chemicals with a dishwasher or washing machine or steam cleaner, which send extreme heat to contaminated surfaces to kill bacteria and other germs. Steam cleaning is especially useful for removing germs from porous surfaces such as fabrics, carpets and upholstery that cannot be effectively disinfected with chemicals designed for hard surfaces. If your washing machine doesn’t have a disinfecting cycle, a product like liquid laundry disinfectant can work together with regular detergent to remove and kill germs from clothes. Add it to the conditioner dispenser, or directly to the rinse cycle.
When to disinfect
If you need to remove all residual contaminants in the room (which is oboben relevant during an epidemic), you’ll need a good disinfectant. A quality disinfectant spray should remove 100 percent of microscopic organisms from surfaces. While it may not be very useful for removing stains, it will effectively stop the spread of diseases and viruses wherever you use it.
Treat areas such as door handles, light switches and bathroom faucets, especially when a family member is sick. To be effective, disinfectant solutions must remain in contact with the surface for a period of time, so that the treated surface remains visibly wet for four minutes.
Do not skip the initial cleaning step before disinfecting. Dirt and organic material can make some disinfectants less effective, so in most cases cleaning is necessary before disinfecting. Using all-in-one antibacterial cleaners is not enough to disinfect unless you first remove visible dirt from the surface (you basically have to clean everything twice).
Is bleach a disinfectant or disinfectant?
Household bleach can be used as a disinfectant or a sanitizer, depending on how diluted it is. But since bleach concentrations may not be listed on the package, and dilution at home is often inaccurate, if you need to be absolutely sure you’re disinfecting a surface, it’s better to buy a ready-made disinfectant.
The difference between cleaning and disinfecting
Cleaning and disinfecting are both important parts of keeping your home healthy. However, they are two different things. Cleaning is the process of removing dirt, dust, and other debris from a surface. Disinfecting is the process of killing bacteria, viruses, and other germs on a surface.
Cleaning should be done regularly to remove any dirt, dust, and other debris that can cause bacteria and viruses to grow. Disinfecting should be done periodically to kill any bacteria, viruses, and other germs that may be present.
It is important to note that cleaning alone is not enough to kill bacteria, viruses, and other germs. Disinfecting is necessary to properly clean and sanitize a surface.