Proper cleaning and sanitising of surfaces is essential for preventing the spread of infectious disease and protecting the health of the community. Although the two terms – cleaning and sanitising – are often used interchangeably, they are actually two different processes with different purposes.
Whether you’re in a healthcare setting, school, or workplace, understanding the difference between cleaning and sanitising is important for improving health and safety for everyone.
What is the difference between cleaning and sanitising?
The main difference between cleaning and sanitising is that cleaning removes visible particles from a surface while sanitising significantly reduces the number of bacteria on that surface.
Cleaning is important in all settings, and all surfaces should be cleaned regularly to prevent the build up of visible soil and harmful microorganisms.
Sanitising is necessary for many types of surfaces to reduce the risk of people coming in contact with disease causing bacteria. Surfaces should be cleaned first before they are sanitised.
When is cleaning necessary?
Cleaning is a necessary process in all settings, from schools and workplaces to homes, public buildings and hospitals. Every type of surface should be cleaned regularly, including floors, walls, bench tops, furniture and food contact surfaces.
The process of cleaning removes visible dirt, dust, grime, food particles etc. from a surface and also helps prevent the spread of harmful bacteria. Cleaning may remove some germs for the surface, but it is not effective at killing bacteria, viruses or fungi.
Cleaning can be done using hot water and cleaning products such as detergents, soaps and degreasers. Equipment such as vacuum cleaners and microfibre cloths can also be used.
When is sanitising required?
Sanitising is the process of reducing the number of harmful bacteria present on a surface. It is usually required for surfaces that people have frequent contact with such as food contact surfaces, bench tops and light switches.
In certain environments, the importance of proper sanitation cannot be understated, particularly in medical settings. Businesses dealing with food are also required to meet strict public health standards when it comes to sanitising.
While sanitising helps reduce the number of bacteria on a surface, it’s not effective at killing viruses and fungi. Situations that require bacteria, viruses and fungi to be killed need to be disinfected.
Sanitising can be performed using chemical sanitisers such as alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and chlorine compounds. In the food industry, hot water is often used to sanitise cooking implements, cutlery and serving items.
Sanitising vs disinfecting
While sanitising a surface will lower the number of bacteria present to a safe level, disinfecting the surface will kill any viruses and fungi present as well as harmful bacteria.
As with the sanitising process, disinfectants should be applied to a clean surface. If you use a disinfectant to clean a surface, the disinfectant should be applied a second time.
What are good sanitisers and disinfectants to use?
When choosing a sanitising product or disinfectant, look for a product that is approved for the pathogens you want to protect against. The Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods provides a list of products that are approved for COVID-19.
You should also consider contact time when purchasing a disinfectant. Contact time (also referred to as ‘wet time’) is the amount of time a product needs to remain wet on a surface for it to be effective.
Products with a shorter contact time ensure an effective result with less applications and less time. Products with a long contact time may evaporate before completely disinfecting the surface and therefore require more applications.
Wipes vs liquid disinfectants
Disinfectants can be purchased in different forms, including liquid solutions and single-use wipes.
Liquid solutions are ideal for cleaning floors and other large surfaces. Look for products such as Viraclean Hospital Grade Disinfectant which are pH neutral and won’t stain carpets or other fabrics.
Single-use disinfectant wipes such as Speedy Clean Wipes are ideal for quick cleaning of hard surfaces and equipment in clinical settings. Being disposable means they reduce the risk of cross contamination.
Can you use sanitisers and disinfectants on skin?
Hand sanitisers and antiseptic wipes can be used on skin, but disinfectants should not be used on human skin because they will kill the good bacteria that lives on our skin too.
When handling sanitising and disinfecting chemicals, it’s recommended you wear nitrile gloves or a similar product to protect your hands.
For more information about which products can be used on living tissue, check out our guide to antiseptics vs disinfectants.
Where to buy hospital-grade sanitisers and disinfectants?
LFA First Response supplies a selection of hospital-grade sanitisers and disinfectants which are suitable for a wide range of healthcare settings and workplaces.
We also stock quality first aid kits and medical supplies, including wound dressing kits, burn treatment kit, medical PPE and more.
If you have questions about the difference between cleaning and sanitising products, our customer service team can help you find the right product for your needs.
Place an order online today or call our friendly customer service team on 1800 681 544 to see how we can help.
