Who doesn’t love the feeling of walking into a pristine space? There’s nothing quite as satisfying as laying your eyes on immaculate, bright and shiny surfaces. So we can agree that good hygiene feels great, but what is the difference between cleaning and sanitizing exactly? Often we use these words interchangeably but they have some clear differences. Let’s get into it.
The difference between cleaning and sanitizing: cleaning
The one main difference between cleaning and sanitizing refers to the removal vs the killing of bacteria. Cleaning is the act of clearing the scattered debris and deposits on a surface, wiping away the little crumbs left behind. As we clean, we remove dirt, spills, food particles, dust, etc., by washing, brushing, or wiping the area. It doesn’t kill germs, but removes them, lowering their numbers and the risk of spreading infection. This process is surface level but it can also be expected to be the first step in the cleansing process. Some common cleaning products include:
- Soaps
- Detergents
- Vacuums
- Dusters
- Degreasers
- Glass Cleaners
The difference between cleaning and sanitizing: sanitizing
Sanitizing can happen after the cleaning. Herein lies the importance of knowing the difference between the two. After cleansing a surface and removing several germs, we can sanitize to kill the remaining germs and bacteria.
To sanitize or not to sanitize, that is the question. Sanitizing is dependent on the area. Items that come into contact with foods and people regularly should be sanitized, while locations like hallway floors and windows – considered low-risk surfaces – do not need to be regularly sanitized.
Sanitizing is meant to be used as a preventative measure and is an extremely important practice in restaurants, schools, corporate offices, and hospitals.
What should we sanitize?
High-touch surfaces indicate the locations where many germs and bacteria could live due to the amount of traffic they get. These items need to be cleaned and sanitized accordingly. To give you a good idea of high-touch spaces, we listed a few below:
- Door handles
- Kitchen counters
- Bathroom counters
- Faucets and faucet knobs
- Toilets (seats and handles)
- Shopping carts
- Tables
- Light switches
- Sinks
- Stair rails
- Elevator buttons
- Desks
When should we sanitize?
We’ve now discussed what should be sanitized as well as the difference between cleaning and sanitizing, but another important question is when should we sanitize. Different businesses have different customer bases and as such will require different cleaning focuses.
For example, a restaurant will need to sanitize their tables after each customer, but a warehouse may only require deep cleaning and sanitizing after each shift. Each business is unique, and its sanitation needs are likewise distinctive.
Your cleaning schedule, sanitizing schedule, and priorities will change depending on the scale of your business, as well. A smaller business with a handful of employees may need to clean and disinfect on a daily basis, but a company that has hundreds or thousands of employees will require a more regular list of steps to ensure all areas are properly sanitized and remain hygienic.
Clean the above mentioned high-touch surfaces and other locations you consider important at least once a day or as often as determined is necessary. Generally, the more people who touch a surface, the higher the risk. If the space is a high traffic area, you may choose to sanitize more frequently. You can do research on high-touch areas in your industry so that you know which areas of your business to focus your efforts on.
Sanitize with us
To make sanitizing easy and seamless, we recommend using any of our 70% alcohol liquid sanitizers after giving your space a good scrub down. Ideal for use in the workplace or the home, get a grip on germs.
Use our sanitizing and disinfectant wipes on electronic items that are touched often, such as phones and computers. A good tip is to pay close attention to the directions for using disinfecting wipes. It may be necessary to use more than one wipe to keep the surface wet for the stated length of contact time. Another VERY important thing to be sure of is that the electronics can withstand the use of liquids for cleaning and disinfecting.
To sum it all up, the difference between cleaning and sanitizing is a surface level cleanse vs. a deep and hygienic bacteria-killing act. Where cleaning removes the germs from surfaces, sanitizer kills them. These can work as a great pair in high-touch environments and to properly dazzle and shine your space.
