Cleaning vs Sanitizing vs Disinfecting

Cleaning

• Cleaning alone is sufficient for some surfaces. Cleaning means to physically remove dirt, debris
  and sticky film from a surface by scrubbing, washing, wiping and rinsing. Cleaning is done with
  regular (not antibacterial) soap or detergent and water. These items do not need to be sanitized or disinfected.
• Cleaning physically removes food or soil from a surface usually with the aid of soap,
  water and some muscle power. Cleaning does not kill bacteria it removes soil and debris
  only.
• Can be done on any surface at any time.

Sanitizing

• Sanitizing (after cleaning) is the proper treatment for most equipment and surfaces in an office or business setting. Sanitizing surfaces destroys enough germs to reduce the risk of becoming ill from contact with those surfaces.
• Sanitizing takes cleaning a step further by reducing the number of bacteria and other
  microorganisms.
• Sanitizing can help prevent disease transmission, contamination and/or spoilage.
• Sanitizers are strong enough to kill bacteria currently present on a surface, but is not strong enough
  to leave a residue that will continue to kill germs into the future. When sanitizers are mixed correctly
  they are non-toxic.
• Sanitizers should be checked frequently to ensure they are the correct strength.
• Sanitizing is required for all food contact surfaces.

Disinfection

• Disinfecting (after cleaning) is the proper treatment for surfaces or equipment where safe contact
  requires a more powerful response to germs. Disinfecting is the proper treatment for equipment
  and surfaces that are involved with toileting and Special Precautions.
• Disinfectants are a strong enough concentration that they kill all the bacteria on a
  surface and will leave a residue on the surface that will continue to kill bacteria/viruses into the
  future.

Hercules Services is a full service janitorial and commercial cleaning company equipped to keep your office or business in top shape for years to come. Our happy clients can testify to the quality of our work, the efficiency of our professionals, and the beautiful clean that they experience. If you’re ready to see how a professional can upgrade your service and keep your clients happy, give us a call at 216-464-1530 or visit us online. To see testimonials and specials, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.