Don’t Get Scammed!
Learn The Difference Between
Cleaning-Sanitizing-Disinfecting
EENY MEENY MINY MOE- SHOULD I CLEAN, SANITIZE OR DISINFECT
CLEANING: The CDC says that cleaning simply removes dirt, germs and other gunk from the surface you are cleaning. (From the CDC: Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs from surfaces. This process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.)
Cleaning removes dirt, soil, gunk, and impurities from the surfaces you clean. Cleaning should always be the first step in your sanitizing and disinfecting regimen. Cleaning does not sanitize or disinfect.
Proper Cleaning Techniques (The Wrong Way)
There is a right way and a wrong way to clean and the two are miles apart. The wrong way is the most common cleaning method used around the world.
Most people use the same cleaning cloth to clean most of the surfaces in their homes or businesses without folding the cloth between surfaces.
Imagine for a moment, surface “A” has a high germ count and you spray a cleaner on the surface or dip your cleaning cloth into a bucket of cleaner, wring out the excess water than clean the surface wiping off a portion of the germs from surface “A”.
You now move to the next surface without folding your cleaning cloth to a new unused portion of the cloth and you spray or dip your cloth into your cleaning solution and you proceed to clean the new surface with the same side of the cloth you cleaned surface “A” with, now spreading the germs from surface “A” onto the new surface.
Now imagine you do this throughout the entire home or business.
Instead of removing the germs, bacteria, viruses or other contaminants you simply move them around the entire property.
This is a quite common practice that needs to STOP!
Next time you are in a restaurant watch how the tables are cleaned after each guest leaves their table. Enough said…
Proper Cleaning Techniques (The Correct Way)
The correct way to clean should be easy to understand after reading about the wrong way to clean surfaces.
You simply fold your towel to a new clean side for each surface you clean.
We like using micro-fiber towels due to their extra pick up ability (they remove more bad stuff than regular cleaning cloths.)
But my all-time favorite that has the least risk of recontamination is using paper towels. You simply tear off a portion, clean a small area of the surface, throw the used paper towel away and repeat with a new paper towel.
Watch this video for proper cleaning techniques
SANITIZING: *Always follow label directions on the product you are using.
Sanitizing simply “lowers the number of germs that are on your surfaces or other objects to a safer level than before you sanitized. This is judged by public health standards or requirements.
(From the CDC: Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. This process works by either cleaning or disinfecting surfaces or objects to lower the risk of spreading infection.
Some people believe that sanitizing and disinfecting are the same.
Sanitizing reduces germs and disinfecting kills germs.
DISINFECTING: *Always follow label directions on the product you are using.
Disinfecting “works by using EPA registered chemicals to kill germs, bacteria and viruses on surfaces or objects.
Disinfection requires the product you are using to disinfect with remains on the surface for a certain period of time called dwell time (e.g., letting it stay damp for 3 to 5 to 10 minutes for complete kill).
(From the CDC: Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.)
Recent Comments