What differentiates cleaning from disinfecting?

Cleaning is a way of keeping germs under control and steering clear of colds, flu and other illnesses. But cleaning alone isn’t always enough to protect you because cleaning and disinfecting aren’t the same thing.

 Cleaning removes dirt and impurities from surfaces but disinfecting kill germs. Cleaning is done with water, soap or detergent and scrubbing action. To disinfect, you need to apply a special substance to a surface and let it remain wet for a certain amount of time.

It is important to clean before you disinfect. Disinfectants have no effect if dirt, soil, dust, or food debris is present. It is important to note that disinfectants are misused and overused; often wiped off too soon to work well or used with a cleaning product which can lead to a harmful chemical reaction.

Hard surfaces like doorknobs, refrigerator handles, bathroom faucets, toilet flushers, and light switches can be breeding grounds for germs because they are often touched by more than one person, it will be more effective to clean with a product that has the capability to clean and disinfect at the same time.

Most of the time, using detergent to clean your laundry is good enough, but if you are washing the clothes or bedding of someone who’s sick, disinfecting them is a good idea. Wash your hands each time you touch the dirty laundry, including when you move it from the washer to the dryer. Once you are done, use a disinfectant to wipe down hard surfaces like your hamper and washer.

Germs on handheld devices like your cell phone, laptop, and tablet match the germs that are often found on a kitchen sponge. Once a week, unplug your devices and remove all dirt and debris you can see with a dry cloth. Clean each screen with a scratch-free wipe made for electronics, then gently swab the surfaces with a disinfectant wipe. Make sure it’s well wrung-out. Too much moisture can damage your device.

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Try to keep your hands away from your mouth, nose and eyes where germs can make you sick. Wash your hands anytime they get dirty, as well as before and after you eat, after you use the bathroom or change a diaper, when you sneeze or cough and after handling pets. If soap and water aren’t handy, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

No matter how often you clean or disinfect, it is impossible to get rid of all germs. But living in an absolutely sterile environment is not necessary; some exposure to common pathogens is the way our immune systems get trained.