Cleaning vs disinfecting: What’s the difference, and why does It matter?

Cleaning and disinfecting are two distinct processes that are both essential for maintaining a healthy and hygienic living or working environment. While cleaning removes visible dirt and grime from surfaces, disinfecting kills harmful bacteria and viruses that can make people sick. In this article, we’ll explore the difference between cleaning and disinfecting and why it matters.

What is Cleaning?

Cleaning is the process of removing dirt, dust, and other debris from surfaces. It can be done using water, soap, and other cleaning products to physically remove dirt and germs from surfaces. Cleaning helps to reduce the number of germs on surfaces and makes the area look cleaner.

While cleaning can help to make surfaces look clean, it does not necessarily eliminate harmful germs that can cause illness. This is where disinfecting comes in.

What is Disinfecting?

Disinfecting is the process of killing germs on surfaces using chemicals or other disinfectants. This process is particularly important in high-traffic areas, such as schools, hospitals, and public restrooms, where harmful bacteria and viruses can easily spread. Of course, it’s also important for home and office areas to be at least once a year for a full in-depth removal of germs.

Disinfecting can be done using a variety of products, such as bleach, alcohol-based disinfectants, and hydrogen peroxide. These products kill harmful germs on surfaces and reduce the risk of infection. Nowadays, there are many alternatives to these strong products, and now, cleaners use more environment healthy detergents to eliminate such germs.

Why Does The Cleaning And Disinfection Matter?

It’s important to understand the difference between cleaning and disinfecting because both are necessary for maintaining a healthy living or working environment. If surfaces are not properly cleaned, harmful germs can continue to thrive and spread, putting people at risk of infection.

On the other hand, if surfaces are not properly disinfected, harmful germs may still be present and could potentially cause illness. This is particularly important during times of high risk, such as during flu season or a pandemic.

To ensure that surfaces are both clean and disinfected, it’s important to use the right products and follow proper cleaning and disinfecting procedures. This may include wearing gloves and other protective equipment, using the right products for the specific surface being cleaned, and allowing disinfectants to sit for the recommended amount of time before wiping them off.