It is not an easy chore to keep a facility clean, safe, and healthy for its users. Germs (such as bacteria and viruses) are ubiquitous and can cause illness or even death, as we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fortunately, regular cleaning is one of the most effective strategies to stop the transmission of germs that can cause illness. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that one of the best ways to stop the spread of illness is to clean, and disinfect or sanitize surfaces on a regular basis.
People often loosely use the terms "cleaning," "sanitizing," and "disinfecting" interchangeably. However, these words actually have very different meanings.
For example, "cleaning" does not technically kill any germs that may be present on a surface. You read that correctly: Cleaning does not kill germs on its own.
That, of course, raises the question, "so, what exactly is cleaning, and if it doesn't kill germs, why is it so important?
Cleaning removes dirt from the surface of objects, but it doesn't guarantee that germs (i.e., bacteria and viruses) will be removed as well. Of course, it’s true that if dirt is removed, the number of germs that are present on the surface will likely be reduced, which in turn lowers the probability that infection will spread.
However, "cleaning" is often only the first step. After cleaning an area, cleaning crews that want to properly kill and remove germs will need to disinfect or sanitize the space.
Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Defined
You may be wondering what is the difference between Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting? According to the CDC:
Cleaning removes most germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. Clean with water, soap (or a detergent), and scrubbing.
Sanitizing reduces germs to levels public health codes or regulations consider safe.
Disinfecting kills most germs on surfaces and objects.
What Level of "Clean" Should I Choose?
The standard of cleanliness that is best suited for your facility depends on a variety of factors and cannot be determined with a one-size-fits-all approach. Sometimes, simple cleaning will be sufficient with no sanitizing or disinfecting. However, most facilities will benefit from a minimum of sanitizing high-touchpoint areas in shared spaces. Medical facilities, of course, often require full disinfecting. Similarly, if your business would be severely disrupted if key personnel were out, or if you have people in high-risk categories (organ transplant recipients, chronic lung disease, etc.), you should consider striving for higher levels of cleanliness. As the familiar adage goes, an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure!
Now that you know some of the differences between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting, you should be in a better spot to make an informed decision about the level of cleanliness that is best suited for your needs.
About Better Business Cleaning
Better Business Cleaning can take care of all of your cleaning needs, from floor and window cleaning to janitorial services. Some businesses think it looks good when our cleaners are on-site and can be seen by customers during business hours. Others would rather have cleaning done when the business is closed. No matter what you want, our skilled cleaners will work around your schedule.
Better Business Cleaning has been in business for more than 26 years and does a lot more than just clean offices. We have clients in medical facilities, schools, warehouses, industrial facilities, manufacturing plants, retail showrooms, banks, financial institutions, corporate headquarters, government buildings, and many other types of buildings.
We are conveniently located in Frederick, Colorado, and our service area goes from Denver to Fort Collins and everywhere in between, including (but not limited to) Longmont, Boulder, Erie, Louisville, Superior, and Westminster.
To learn more about the services Better Business Cleaning offers, please contact us to get a free custom quote for all your cleaning and disinfecting needs.