If recent headlines are anything to go by, Covid-19 will remain a part of our lives for years to come. And whilst ‘covid cleaning’, disinfecting and sanitising may not be as prominent a conversation topic as it was in 2020, it is still of great importance. In particular, for maintaining the safety of high-traffic environments such as offices and schools.
There is still some confusion around the differences between cleaning, disinfecting and sanitising. With the help of some examples, below we break down each method along with when they’re most useful in the context of contract cleaning – though you may find useful for home cleaning too.
Cleaning, disinfecting and sanitising explained
Each of these methods is part of your wider cleaning strategy. When used together, they can provide a high standard of hygiene in any space.
Cleaning
Cleaning is focussed on removing the things we can see and feel (soil, dust, debris and liquids) as well as the things we can’t (microorganisms, or ‘germs’). It is essential to clean first, in order to make the most of disinfecting or sanitising products.
Cleaning includes sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, scrubbing and wiping of surfaces such as carpets, furniture, and hard surfaces. Soap and detergent are often used to aid the process. The key thing to note is that cleaning does not aim to kill germs; it simply removes them from a surface.
Disinfecting
In contrast, disinfecting aims to eradicate as close to 100% of bacteria and viruses as possible. Disinfectant products often quote a 99.99% success rate in removing all microorganisms and are most effective on hard, non-porous surfaces. They often contain harsh chemicals such as acids, alcohol and chlorine.
Sanitising
Finally, sanitising is the process of reducing the presence of bacteria (not including viruses) without the harsh chemicals used in a disinfectant. Sanitising kills most germs, but not all like a disinfectant, and it doesn’t remove dirt like cleaning does. For this reason, you may sanitise your hands or children’s toys after a good clean with soap first, but you’re unlikely to disinfect them.
Knowing when to clean vs disinfect vs sanitise
As we mention above, cleaning removes debris whilst disinfecting and sanitising are used to reduce or eradicate germs. So, when is best to use each and how often?
In contracted commercial cleaning, most areas of an office, school building, healthcare facility or retail premises are cleaned every day to reduce the dangers of an unclean workplace. Daily cleaning reduces the build-up of litter, dust, dirt and grime and is key to maintaining a fresh feel – not to mention smell.
Depending on the number of people using a facility, toilets and kitchens may be cleaned more often reduce the build-up of harmful microorganisms and odours, and disinfected to ensure all germs are depleted as much as possible. High-touch areas such as doorknobs and handles, faucets, phones, printers and machines may also be disinfected daily.
Thanks to Covid, it’s also very common to sanitise several times a day in shared workplaces and buildings. But this shouldn’t be limited to hand sanitiser. Keyboards and desk equipment, mobile phones and tablets, or shared stationery and equipment in schools, can all be sanitised regularly to reap the advantages of a hygienic shared space.
Advantages of cleaning, disinfecting and sanitising
As you can see, cleaning, disinfecting and sanitising are all part of your wider hygiene initiative and help to:
- Lower stress levels – particularly for those who are cleanliness-conscious or vulnerable to unhygienic environments
- Reduce health care costs of organisations and individuals – thanks to reduced likelihood of illness, allergy flare ups and respiratory issues from excess dust, pet hair, mould and mildew
- Improve odour – by eliminating matter which may produce bad smells
JMS Cleaning Services
Spaces that experience high traffic every day – such as gyms, offices, schools, construction site cabins, healthcare facilities – require regular and consistent hygiene regimes to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their inhabitants.
At JMS Cleaning Services, we have been providing specialist commercial cleaning services for over 20 years. Our top team have extensive experience and have delivered exceptional quality of service to countless UK businesses.
If you would like to find out more about our range of commercial cleaning services, don’t hesitate to get in touch.