When it comes time to outsource janitorial services, you’ll likely hear a number of different terminologies used, like cleaning, sanitation, and disinfection. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they’re unique, each serving a specific purpose and helping meet a facility’s specific goal.
Is your goal to keep patients safe? Reduce the spread of germs for students? Meet food safety standards? Then these definitions will make a difference when choosing a janitorial service provider and the duties they’ll perform.
Understanding the true definition and differences between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting will help you better determine which type of commercial cleaning services your organization needs.
In this article, we’ll define each process and lay out its key differences so you can choose which tasks you’ll prefer when outsourcing janitorial services.
Cleaning Vs. Sanitizing Vs. Disinfecting: Key Differences
Cleaning removes any debris, preparing the surface for the next steps. On the other hand, sanitizing reduces the spread of bacteria, while disinfecting eliminates bacteria. Understanding the difference between these duties ensures a cleaner and healthier workplace that meets your industry’s highest standards.
The chart below provides a quick overview of the key differences and products needed:
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Process
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Purpose
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Products Used
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Removes Dirt?
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Kills Germs?
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Example
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Cleaning
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Removal of dirt, smudges, and debris to ensure the surface is cleaned and visually appears clean
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Vacuums, Broom & Butler, All-Purpose cleaners, window and glass cleaners, degreasing chemicals, as well as other tools
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Yes
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No
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Wiping down flat surfaces, floors, mirrors/glass, all to remove dirt and debris or smudges to present a clean, well-maintained area
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Sanitizing
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Reduces the amount of bacteria and germs to create a safer level
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Sanitizing wipes or hand products to eliminate the amount of germs and prevent the spread of germs
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No
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Yes
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Used in kitchens, child care rooms, school desks, and other common areas.
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Disinfecting
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Kills bacteria, viruses, and most germs
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Spray chemicals, aerosol chemicals, wipes
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No
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Yes
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Spraying or wiping surfaces with recommended dwell time kills bacteria and prevents the spread of germs. Used in medical, schools, high-touch point areas, locker room floors, and bathrooms.
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Cleaning: Removing Dirt and Debris
Cleaning removes visible dirt, dust, and other particles from surfaces, prepping the area before sanitizing or disinfecting it. Typically, you can use a cloth with a soap or spray solution to clean. An example, sweeping floors with a broom, is also considered cleaning the surface area.
It’s important to note that cleaning alone does not kill bacteria or germs. But it’s still a vital step– improving the effectiveness of any next steps.
Sanitizing: Reducing the Spread of Germs
While cleaning removes debris, sanitizing helps reduce the amount of bacteria on surface areas. But like cleaning, it doesn’t kill bacteria. Instead, it reduces the amount of bacteria on a surface to a safer level. The level of safety is typically set by the public health industry.
Sanitizers are often used on surfaces used for food preparation, in most medical facilities, and in daycares and preschools, especially for sanitizing toys and play areas. The chemicals used for sanitizing are typically less harsh than those used for disinfecting.
To be safe, always read the labels of your sanitizing products to ensure they are, in fact, safe for your cleaning purposes.
Disinfecting: Killing Germs on Surfaces
Disinfecting is your main line of defense against germs. EPA-approved disinfectant products are specifically formulated to kill bacteria and viruses on surfaces. These solutions are much stronger than those used for cleaning and sanitizing.
To disinfect a surface area, clean it first and then spray the disinfectant solution, which is often a diluted bleach solution, on the area. Let the solution sit for the recommended amount of time before wiping it down. This contact time is set by public health guidelines, and is typically around 5 minutes. This ensures germs are effectively destroyed.
Disinfection practices are most used in high-risk areas, like hospital settings, restrooms, kitchens, and other high-traffic spaces.
Cleaning Vs. Sanitizing Vs. Disinfecting: Choosing the Right Service for Your Facility
Different workspaces require a different janitorial service to meet cleaning industry standards. Using the correct procedures – whether that’s cleaning, sanitizing, or disinfecting – ensures that the effectiveness and safety standards are met in all different types of workplace environments.
Typically, sanitization and disinfection are used in healthcare environments, food preparation areas (like restaurants and cafeterias), and educational facilities, especially daycares and preschools.
For most other facilities – like office buildings, industrial settings, stores, or warehouses – cleaning is a common task on the checklist, as it’s applicable to any industry. You’ll often see sanitization or disinfection occur in high-touch areas or possibly disinfectant solutions used in medical or food facilities, especially during peak cold and flu season.
Knowing which procedure fits your industry best will help maintain a cleaner workspace that also protects employees, clients, and visitors from the spread of germs.
Strengthen Your Cleaning Strategy With B&T
To meet the standards set by the cleaning industry, each process utilizes different tools, techniques, and products, collectively addressing all cleaning requirements. Including each one as part of your strategy ensures compliance with safety regulations, maximizes efforts, and helps achieve long-term goals.
B&T Building Services offers janitorial services to meet these needs, essential to promote healthy, safe, and clean environments in a variety of facilities.
Check out the services we offer to see how we can support your facility's goals.
