What is the Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting?

The main difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing lies in their purpose and the level of germ removal they achieve:

1. Cleaning:

• Physically removes most germs, dirt, and impurities from objects and surfaces.
• Uses soap or detergents with water to scrub, wash, and rinse.
• Performed regularly and always comes before sanitizing or disinfecting objects and surfaces.

1. Sanitizing:

• Reduces the number of germs on objects and surfaces to levels considered safe.
• Uses weaker bleach solutions or sanitizing sprays.
• Requires cleaning objects or surfaces first before sanitizing.
• Sanitizes objects and surfaces that come in contact with mouths (such as toys, infant feeding supplies, countertops, and other surfaces that touch food).

1. Disinfecting:

• Kills remaining germs on surfaces. Killing germs can further lower the risk of spreading disease.
• Uses an EPA-registered disinfecting product or a stronger bleach solution.
• Requires cleaning surfaces first before disinfecting.
• Disinfect surfaces when someone is sick or if someone is at higher risk of getting sick due to a weakened immune system.

In summary, cleaning physically removes dirt and germs, sanitizing reduces the number of germs to safe levels, and disinfecting kills remaining germs on surfaces. It is essential to clean surfaces before sanitizing or disinfecting them, as dirt, soil, dust, or food debris can interfere with the effectiveness of disinfectants.

Comparative Table: Cleaning vs Disinfecting

The main differences between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing are as follows:

In summary, cleaning involves removing dirt and debris from surfaces, sanitizing involves reducing the number of germs on surfaces, and disinfecting involves killing a significant percentage of viruses and harmful bacteria on surfaces. While these terms have different definitions, it is helpful to think of the relationship between them as a hierarchy, with cleaning at the bottom and disinfecting at the top.