Difference Between Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Disinfecting According to the CDC
As we go through another flu season, staying clean remains an effective way to stay healthy. But cleaning alone isn’t always enough when it comes to microscopic germs that can make us sick—sometimes you have to sanitize and sanitize, too.
There is a definite difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting, as well as a right and wrong way to do them. Here are the highlights with CDC recommendations.
Cleaning, disinfection and disinfection
First, let’s discuss the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and disinfecting as defined by the CDC:
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Cleaning involves physically removing dirt, debris, and (some) germs from surfaces. This is usually done with soap or other cleaning products, water, and a little scrubbing (hence the “physical” part). Cleaning only removes some of the germs that could make you sick, but it’s often enough to keep you healthy overall: germs left on a plate after you’ve washed it in the sink are usually harmless as long as you’re in good condition. health.
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Disinfection significantly reduces the number of germs on a surface, leaving behind a level that is considered safe. Most disinfectants kill bacteria, but they are not necessarily designed to kill viruses (although they can often kill some).
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Disinfection kills everything – both bacteria and viruses.
It’s important to remember that disinfectants and disinfectants don’t clean very well, meaning they kill most or all germs but may not be very good at removing dirt and debris. For example, if you only use hand sanitizer, your hands may be sanitized, but they may still be dirty.
When to Clean, Disinfect, and Sanitize
Since cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing are different things, it makes sense to treat them as such. Here’s when to do each:
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Clean everything regularly—every day. In fact, the germ-killing routine always starts with cleaning (removing debris and dirt) since it is impossible to effectively sanitize or sanitize a dirty surface. Cleaning should always come first when you want to sanitize or sanitize something.
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Disinfect surfaces and objects that come into contact with food or may enter your mouth after each use if you are concerned about illness.
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Disinfect surfaces if you are sick (or someone else in the house is sick), or if you or someone else in the house has a weakened immune system.
In other words, you generally don’t need to disinfect every day, but you do need to clean and disinfect certain things every day.
Check the labels on your products
If you want to sanitize or sanitize a surface, you will need to use a cleaner suitable for the task, but don’t put too much faith in the labels. Many disinfectants claim to kill 99% or even 99.9% of germs, but this is usually a lie . What they mean is that they kill 99.9% of certain bacteria and viruses. Even so, they usually do not provide any information about the conditions under which these tests were conducted, i.e. how thoroughly the surfaces were cleaned or how the product was applied.
This doesn’t mean that disinfectants are useless, but it does mean that you shouldn’t assume that your home is antiseptic and completely germ-free after using them. If you want to truly kill as many bacteria and viruses as possible, you shouldn’t rely solely on a sanitizer, even if it claims to be 99.9% effective.
If you disinfect, be sure to read the label and follow the instructions. Most products require the sanitizer to remain on the surface for an extended period of time (sometimes up to 20 minutes) to be fully effective. If you’re just spraying and wiping, you’re probably not disinfecting. If you’re looking for a sanitizer or sanitizer that uses isopropyl alcohol, also make sure it’s a 70% strength blend (as opposed to a 99% alcohol blend—ironically, lower strength is a better option for sanitizing ).