Cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting... Auburn Mass??

4/29/2020 (Permalink)

Cleaning: cleaning refers to wiping down surfaces so they appear neat and clean. 

Cleaning removes any visible spots or smudges, or debris. Cleaning isn't typically going to take care of germs as well as sanitizing or disinfecting. It helps make your counters nice and shiny, but there's still going to be some germs lingering on there that you should follow up cleaning with sanitizing or disinfecting to ensure the bacteria and germs are gone for good. 

Sanitizing: Sanitizing, while still very effective, doesn't kill ALL germs. According to the CDC - sanitizing lowers the number of germs to a safe level. 

Disinfecting: Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs. 

So... the difference between sanitizing and disinfecting is what confuses most people... to break it down simply, sanitizing lowers the number of germs on a surface and disinfecting kills the germs on a surface. 

Why do I need to know the difference?

It's important to understand the differences between these 3 procedures so you know which to use when...makes sense right!

Now your next question probably is... which do I use when?!

When to sanitize: Sanitizing should be done whenever food is involved. After you use a surface (as well as before) for handling food, it should be sanitized. Dishwashers are great at sanitizing your dishes because they use extremely hot water alongside a detergent of some sorts. The same goes for your clothes washer. 

When to disinfect: You should keep in mind that disinfecting should kill every germ on the surface. When you're shopping for disinfectants, be sure it removes 100% of the germs. Ensuring this will stop the spread of viruses and diseases. 

It's also very important to keep in mind when disinfecting that the surface needs to remain in contact with the solution for a certain amount of time.(surface must remain wet with solution) This time may vary per product but it can vary from 15 seconds to 10 minutes!  Check your product label for the proper contact time. 

When to clean: Well... you should clean before you disinfect or sanitize to remove any extra debris around the area. 

If your home or business is just too out of control for you to handle, we offer residential and commercial cleaning services so you don't have to worry about it! 

Let us be your master of service 508-234-3399 24/7 and we will help with your flooded basements, fire damage and more !!