You have heard about different hygienic methods, that is, cleaning, disinfection, and sanitization. But do we understand them correctly, or are we prone to interchanging them now and then? Many people may think that they mean the same thing, but these methods differ significantly.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting all have different definitions:
- Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and other impurities from surfaces, but doesn’t necessarily kill them.
- Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects—either by killing them or removing them—to a safe level, according to public health standards or requirements.
- Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects.
So, when should you sanitize and when should you disinfect?
There are certain procedures for cleaning groceries, surfaces in your office such as doorknobs, and your hands, and it’s crucial to get them right. Let’s start with groceries: You don’t need to wipe them down with Clorox wipes (or any other disinfectants) or a sanitizer. All you have to do is clean them (using water, but no soap) when you bring them in your office.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you want to save disinfectants for bigger messes or highly-touched areas of your home, like doorknobs, toilet handles, and even sink. Countertops, however, is where things get tricky—if you’re using any surfaces for food preparation, it’s best to sanitize those, so any chemical residue isn’t as powerful and potentially harmful.
Ultimately, you can go by this simple rule: “Wipe off surfaces, [but] wash your hands.”
Contact us on sales@firstclasscleaning.co.ke incase you need cleaning, sanitization or disinfection for your home or office.
