It’s flu season, and I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore …

Seriously, do you know the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting?

Although these words are often used interchangeably, there IS a difference. Let’s look at what the difference is and what it means to you …

Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and other “stuff” from surfaces and/or objects. Cleaning typically involves using soap or some kindvof detergent to remove the dirt and germs. Cleaning doesn’t kill the germs … it simply removes those present on the surface at the time of the cleaning, which lowers the overall presence of germs and lowers the risk of spreading infection and disease.

Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces and/or objects to what is considered a safe level. (Considered safe by public health standards.) Sanitizers do not kill viruses or fungi, either, but they lower the bacteria count to safe levels, generally through a cleaning process.

Disinfecting kills the germs. Disinfecting sprays may not clean the surface and/or object, but they destroy the organisms listed on the label. By killing the germs, you also lower the risk of spreading infection and disease.

The bottom line is lowering the risk of spreading infection and disease … and you can do that by cleaning, sanitizing, or disinfecting.

For even more information, check out Cleaning and Disinfecting Properly.

We’d love to know if you found this article helpful. Please leave a comment below!

And remember, if you live in Fresno CA or the surrounding area and need help … CALL US at (559) 264-6677! Estimates are free, and the value you receive from professional house cleaning is more affordable than you might think!