Know the Difference between Clean, Disinfect, Sanitize and Sterilize
Sometimes, the subtle differences between words can get lost in translation which is often the case with the following words: clean, disinfect, sanitize, and sterilize.
What is Cleaning?
Cleaning is the mechanical act of removing germs and microbes, using soaps or detergents, from a surface, whether natural or inanimate. The action reduces the frequency of germs and lowers the risk of spreading infection.
What is Disinfecting?
Disinfecting something means successfully killing germs and bacteria on objects and surfaces. It is done using chemicals that might or might not clean surfaces, so you must disinfect before cleaning objects and surfaces.
What is Sanitizing?
Sanitization is the act of cleaning and disinfection to a safe or required level. It works to reduce the number of germs and bacteria on objects and surfaces. When you sanitize something, you clean it and disinfect it to kill germs to the approved level to reduce the spread of infections.
What is Sterilizing?
Finally, sterilization is a method used in healthcare and research facilities to kill and remove all microbes, including bacteria, fungi, respective spores, and viruses from all surfaces and objects. Sterilization has different types that involve the use of high heat and pressure, chemicals, and radiation to eliminate germs.
Living with the coronavirus has made it very important to sanitize and disinfect surfaces. High-traffic surfaces, such as doorknobs, seats, chairs, and floors should be cleaned at least twice a day or more as needed. You should disinfect the surfaces once every 24 hours to 3 days or more if there is a risk of contamination.
Since chemicals are used to disinfect and sanitize surfaces, it is better to contact professionals for handling these processes. They are well-versed in the appropriate methods and possess the right tools to efficiently disinfect and sanitize surfaces and areas, as well as test the disinfection level with advanced testing technologies. Contact us at KG Facility Solutions today for all your cleaning needs!