Commercial Cleaning vs. Sanitizing vs. Disinfecting. Understanding the Difference.

Maintaining a clean and healthy work environment is essential for the safety and well-being of employees and visitors, especially during these unprecedented times.

However, many people are not aware of the significant differences between commercial cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting, which can lead to confusion and ineffective cleaning practices. In this post, we will provide an overview of each cleaning method and discuss the areas within the office that require regular cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting.

By understanding these differences and enlisting the help of a commercial cleaning company that provides office cleaning services, you can ensure that your workplace is free of harmful bacteria and viruses, promoting a healthy and safe work environment for everyone.

Cleaning with commercial cleaners that contain soap or detergent decreases the number of germs on surfaces and reduces risk of infection from surfaces in your facility. Cleaning alone removes most types of harmful germs (like viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi) from surfaces.

Sanitizing reduces the remaining germs on surfaces after cleaning.

Disinfecting can kill harmful germs that remain on surfaces after cleaning. By killing germs on a surface after cleaning, disinfecting can further lower the risk of spreading disease.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Commercial Cleaning

Cleaning is the process of removing visible dirt, debris, and other unwanted materials from surfaces, floors, and objects. It involves using a specific chemical – often a neutral cleaning, glass cleaner, restroom cleaner, etc. –and a wiping cloth to wipe down and scrub surfaces to make them appear clean and tidy. Other cleaning tasks may not include the use of chemicals such as dusting, vacuuming, and picking up trash. Cleaning is a crucial first step before sanitizing and disinfecting as it helps reduce the number of germs present and provides a visually clean environment.

In an office, areas that require regular cleaning include floors, carpets, individual desks, chairs, and common areas like entrances, break rooms, and restrooms. Regular cleaning helps to prevent the spread of dirt, dust, and allergens and makes the environment look and feel fresh.

Commercial Sanitizing

Sanitizing offices and workspaces is the process of reducing the number of germs and bacteria to safe levels that are considered acceptable by public health standards. It involves using specific chemicals or other methods to kill or remove the bacteria and germs that cleaning may have missed. It’s important to note again that sanitizing reduces the number of germs and bacteria, whereas disinfecting, which we will review next, kills the germs and bacteria on the surface

Within office cleaning services, areas that require regular sanitizing include high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, telephones, computer keyboards, and other frequently touched surfaces. Sanitizing these areas regularly helps to reduce the spread of germs and bacteria, especially during cold and flu seasons.

Commercial Disinfecting

Disinfecting commercial facilities go beyond sanitizing and is the process of killing all germs and bacteria on surfaces. It uses a stronger chemical solution that is designed to kill a broad range of germs and viruses, including those that cause serious illnesses. When disinfecting, users must pay particular attention to the kill claims on each specific chemical, as well as the dwell time needed to achieve these claims. This can sometimes be a daunting task, but enlisting the help of an office cleaning company can help you accomplish it.

Within office cleaning services, areas that require regular disinfecting include bathrooms, kitchens, and any surfaces that have come into contact with bodily fluids. Office disinfecting is also needed to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 as sanitizing may not kill this virus. Disinfecting these areas helps to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses.

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between commercial cleaning, commercial sanitizing, and commercial disinfecting is crucial for maintaining a clean and healthy work environment. While cleaning focuses on removing visible dirt and debris, sanitizing and disinfecting focus on reducing the number of germs and bacteria on surfaces.

In an office, it’s important to prioritize regular cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting in areas that are high-touch, frequented by many people, and areas that come into contact with bodily fluids. By working with a commercial cleaning company providing office cleaning services that understand these differences and can provide the appropriate services, you can maintain a clean and healthy work environment for you and your employees.