There’s nothing quite like a pandemic to force you to question everything when it comes to commercial cleaning.
Are my cleaners using the right products? Are they cleaning the right way? Should they be doing this or that?
I’m sure these questions have entered your mind at one point or another over these last couple of years. Especially with all these terms like cleaning, sanitising, and disinfecting being used interchangeably throughout workplace conversations and even on the news.
But what does cleaning, sanitising, and disinfecting even mean? Are they the same thing?
At In-Tec, many of our clients ask this exact question, and we’re here to tell you that there are distinct differences between all three.
Cleaning, sanitising, and disinfecting have a time and place in keeping a workplace environment safe for employees and clients. Cleaning removes visible particles, sanitising reduces bacteria, and disinfecting kills bacteria and viruses.
And to save you from the late-night Googling (which could send you down a rabbit hole), this article is going to take you through a definition of each cleaning term, and a summary of the main differences.
Let’s get started!
What is cleaning?
Sure, some of us may already know what cleaning involves.
But did you know that cleaning is considered the first step to achieving optimal decontamination?
In order for the sanitising and disinfecting process to be successful, general cleaning must always be completed first.
Cleaning is defined as the process of removing all visible contaminants such as dirt, dust, and other particles from surfaces. Typically, it involves using a quality microfibre cloth in conjunction with a detergent or solvent.
There is one important thing to remember with the cleaning process.
Cleaning is surface level and on its own, does not kill or thoroughly remove germs, bacteria, and viruses from surfaces. Yes, it does stop the spread of a small portion of germs, but it doesn’t necessarily remove them. However, it should always be undertaken before sanitising and disinfecting because it improves the effectiveness of the processes that follow.
Yes, cleaning can be seen as a ‘simple’ task, but it goes without saying that it is quite possibly the most important step to complete in the whole cleansing process.
What is sanitising?
At the crux of it, sanitising reduces the number of microorganisms like fungi, bacteria, and viruses on a surface after it has been cleaned.
Remember, cleaning is always the first step.
Think of it like using hand sanitiser. Washing your hands is the preferred first step, and then applying the sanitiser. The process we’re explaining is the same, you clean first and then sanitise the surface.
The sanitiser that is used must reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and/or viruses to a safe level that follows the government health standards.
But again, sanitising does not kill or remove all of the microorganisms on a surface. It is merely a preventative measure that lowers the risk of infection.
What is a good sanitising product or system a cleaner should be using?
We’re glad you asked!
At In-Tec, we highly recommend the Tersano SAO cleaning system. SAO is a system that turns water and oxygen into a powerful, safe, and highly effective cleaning agent and sanitiser. It can remain an active sanitiser for up to 24 hours and a cleaner for up to 6 days.
It’s a great cleaning system that’s simple, sustainable, and does the job properly.
What is disinfecting?
The final step in the cleaning process is disinfecting.
Disinfecting kills 99.99% of specific pathogens such as bacteria and viruses on a surface. It is certainly one of the most reliable ways of stopping the spread of infection and germs.
Because let’s face it, we don’t want anything harmful going around the workplace!
And as it’s more effective than sanitising, disinfectant solutions are often used on high touch point areas such as light switches, railings, door handles, and the like.
At In-Tec, we recommend two products. The first is eWater. The system provides a ready-to-use, on-demand supply of disinfectant and is certified by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration to kill the coronaviruses including COVID-19.
And as a bonus, they even supply cleaning and sanitising solutions. It’s a fantastic all-in-one cleaning product!
The second disinfecting product we recommend is Oxivir. Oxivir is a hospital-grade disinfectant cleaner based on Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP). This cleaning agent has a fast and effective cleaning performance. Oxivir is sprayed via an electrostatic machine and kills COVID-19 in under one minute.
A summary of the main differences
I want to start this off with an easy comparison.
Think of the relationship between cleaning, sanitising, and disinfecting like a set of stairs.
Cleaning is at the bottom, sanitising is in the middle, and at the top, you have disinfecting (the final step). Without one, the whole thing falls apart. Without cleaning, you can’t sanitise or disinfect properly.
If your workplace needs disinfecting, make sure your cleaner is following the appropriate process that gets the job done properly.
And for the summary of differences, here it is!
- Cleaning – removes dirt, dust, odours, and other soils from surfaces
- Sanitising – reduces the number of bacteria and viruses from surfaces
- Disinfecting – kills harmful bacteria and viruses from surfaces
In a bit more detail, the difference between sanitising and disinfecting all relies on the effectiveness of the solution to eliminate microorganisms. For instance, while sanitisers remove some germs, they have a lower standard of success than disinfectants. This is because disinfectants are more potent and are designed to kill nearly 100% of harmful germs such as bacteria, viruses, and even fungi.
Why it’s important to know the distinction between cleaning, sanitising, and disinfecting
Now, more than ever, employees are prioritising safe and clean workplaces with rigorous cleaning, sanitising, and disinfecting protocols.
This is why it’s super important to know the differences between the three cleaning methods.
While all three processes can be performed on their own, cleaning, sanitising, and disinfecting, in that order, will do the best job at removing all the nasty things you don’t want lying around your workplace.
Next time your cleaner comes in, ask whether they follow the correct cleaning procedures. You want to be certain that they’re leaving your site clean, not just looking or feeling clean.
If you’ve got any other questions regarding cleaning methods, or want to have a general chat about commercial cleaning, then schedule a call with Paul or Caitlin. We’re here to help.
Let’s talk cleaning!
