Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting, are terms often used interchangeably. However, the are key distinctions and as you’ll find out the context in which they are used matters! Read on to find out what separates disinfection, sanitization and cleaning.
To get started here are the definitions of each:
Cleaning is the act of removing debris and dirt from a surface by a manual or machine aided process of wiping, washing or scrubbing. In other words, cleaning is the physical act of removing dust and dirt but not necessarily germs from surfaces or objects.
Disinfecting is destroying or inactivating both bacteria and viruses. The chemical in question (disinfectants) will kill germs on surfaces and objects as long as they are hard and nonporous, and is left for a certain period of time. Disinfecting does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces.
Sanitizing is the act of reducing bacteria to a level as specified by the product that you are using. It means that you are lowering the number of surface bacteria to a certain level.
Are we talking about disinfecting a person or a surface?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the use of chemicals on people. Examples are hand sanitizers, antiseptic washes, and antibacterial soaps. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the agency that sets the standards for surface cleaning chemicals. In this article we zoom in on the specifics of cleaning, disinfecting or sanitizing of surfaces.
Related read: the difference between commercial cleaning and janitorial
Can sanitizing chemicals claim to kill viruses?
The short answer to the question whether sanitizing chemicals can claim to kill a virus is no. Surface disinfectant products are subject to more rigorous EPA testing requirements and must clear a higher bar for effectiveness than surface sanitizing products. There are no sanitizer-only products with approved virus claims. For this reason, sanitizers do not qualify for inclusion on EPA’s list of approved disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
But my sanitizing chemical does claims to kill viruses!
The only way a sanitizing chemical can claim to kill viruses is if the EPA has that product registered as both a sanitizer and a disinfectant. These products are eligible for inclusion on EPA’s approved list because of their disinfectant component. A sanitizing agent alone can only claim to kill bacteria. A disinfectant agent can kill both bacteria and viruses. Just to be clear, if it is a hand sanitizer (FDA regulated) it can make the claim because it falls in the realm (and the definitions) of the FDA.
Related read: COVID 19 cleaning and disinfecting
When should I clean and when should I disinfect?
To prevent the spread of infection, you should regularly clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched often. Example of high-touch areas are desks, door handles and posts, faucet and toilet handles, light switches, and phones.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) puts forth the guidelines on cleaning and disinfecting recommendations for COVID-19 virus. Remember that you should disinfect – not sanitize – because disinfectants are the only products approved by the EPA to kill viruses on hard surfaces.
So disinfecting is the only & best way to go?
If you want to make sure you kill all surface pathogens like Covid-19, then yes – disinfecting is the way to go. However spraying a disinfectant will not remove dirt from a surface. To make your office look clean you will have to do exactly that, clean.
Are all disinfectants effective?
Using a chemical that is an EPA approved disinfectant is only half the battle.
- Firstly, using the chemical correctly is key and one has to strictly abide by the directions on the product. For example: bleach is a registered disinfectant. If diluted too much it turns into a sanitizer or simply a cleaning agent. Vice versa, using too high a concentration may well destroy the surface you use it on. And pose a heath risk, not to mention place an unnecessary burden on the environment.
- Secondly, the surface has to be hard and smooth in order for the disinfectant to be effective.
- Thirdly, the chemical needs to remain on the surface for an appropriate period of time – aka the dwell time.
Should you always use a disinfectant chemical?
You don’t necessarily have to use a disinfectant chemical all the time. For one you arguably do not have to treat surfaces with a disinfectant if they are not going to be touched like for example the walls or ceiling. Another factor to consider is whether it is safe to use in a particular space – think for example of a food preparation environment.
Are there products that clean and disinfect at the same time?
Someone claiming there are products that clean and disinfect at the same time is technically not correct. Cleaning involves a manual or machine aided process, where the disinfection part depends on the chemical being used. One can clean without disinfecting and one can disinfect without cleaning.
Does manual cleaning with a disinfectant negate fogging or electrostatic spraying?
Cleaning surfaces with a disinfectant chemical is certainly effective, however spraying or fogging could still be a consideration.
- Firstly, it reduces human error because when one manually cleans it is easy to overlook and/or not fully cover 100% of the touch areas whereas fogging or electrostatic spraying provides a more uniform – and less error prone – coverage.
- Secondly, timing can be an issue as cleaning is more labor intensive. If the building needs to be treated quickly in order to reopen like restaurants or production facilities, then spraying is certainly faster and at the end of the day can also be more cost effective.
Related read: electrostatic disinfecting
To wrap it up
Cleaning does not necessarily mean sanitizing or disinfecting and vice versa. The distinction is important depending on the goal, the budget and the situation. One can think of the relationship between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting as a spectrum, with disinfecting at one end and cleaning at the other. System4 can help you make a decision on what solution best suits facility. Give us a call at 302-894-7574 or schedule an appointment to talk to one of our experts. We can put a customized plan together to suit your specific situation.
