Cleaning, Disinfecting and Sanitizing: What Each One Does

Germs are everywhere: in the air, soil and water, on our skin and inside our bodies. Some are helpful and some cause disease. They also sit on the things we touch, and from there they can reach us. Touch a television remote with germs on it, then rub your eyes or nose or eat with your fingers, and you can be infected.

Washing hands often is the first defense, but nobody can wash after touching every object. So the surfaces and objects themselves need regular cleaning and disinfecting.

Three different jobs

People often use the words interchangeably, but they mean different things.

Cleaning does not necessarily kill germs. It physically takes some of them away, which still leaves fewer to spread an infection.

Disinfecting is the reverse: it kills germs but does not necessarily clean a dirty surface or remove the germs from it. A disinfectant usually has to stay on the surface for a set length of time to work.

Sanitizing is defined by its result rather than its method. What counts as a “safe level” depends on public health standards or the rules of a particular workplace or school; restaurants and other places that prepare food, for example, follow set sanitizing procedures. Depending on the need, sanitizing might mean mopping a floor with a mop, a chemical and water, running dishes through a dishwasher, or wiping a remote with an antibacterial wipe.

Doing both — cleaning and then disinfecting — lowers the risk of spreading infection further. Some products clean and disinfect in one step.

What to clean and disinfect

Focus on the things people touch most. At home that means:

• countertops;
• doorknobs;
• faucet and toilet handles;
• light switches;
• remotes; and
• toys.

Treating these regularly helps stop infections spreading.

Using the products safely

Cleaning and disinfecting products can be dangerous if they are used carelessly.

• Keep them in their original containers.
• Read the label — follow the instructions and heed the warnings.
• Never mix products unless the labels say it is safe. Some combinations, such as chlorine bleach with ammonia cleaners, can cause serious injury or even death.
• Check whether you need protection: the label says whether to wear gloves, eye protection, or both.
• If a product is swallowed, inhaled or gets on the skin, follow the label’s directions or get medical help.
• Store them out of children’s reach.

Sources

Based on "Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing," MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.