In the wake of a global pandemic, more people than ever before are becoming conscious of what it means to protect your home and family from harmful illnesses. Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion around which cleaning methods are appropriate, and, when signing up for house cleaning services, what exactly you can expect as a result.
Many individuals and even cleaning businesses tend to use the terms cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting interchangeably, but the truth is that there are significant differences between them, particularly in what type of uncleanliness they address. If you’re interested in learning about the best ways to keep a clean and healthy home,, read on to gain insight from the Fort Collins house cleaning experts at Clean Bees!
Where Are Germs Found?
Germs, while invisible to the naked eye, are everywhere! This isn’t something to be alarmed about, it’s simply a fact of everyday life. Some germs can be helpful and are not harmful while others can indeed be harmful or even cause disease to establish and spread. Germs are found in the air, soil, water, skin, clothes, indoor and outdoor surfaces, and inside our bodies.
The problem with germs is that they can spread to you and infect you, making you sick. Germs are easily left behind, such as when a sick person touches a doorknob, and they are also easily picked up. For example, if you touch the doorknob that a sick person touched and then go on to rub your eyes or eat something with your hands, it’s possible that you could pick up the original illness.
Substances that carry germs might be visible, such as in dirt or a child’s runny nose, but bacteria and viruses can very well be impossible to see on their own. Furthermore, it’s important to note that bacteria and viruses require different cleaning methods which perfectly leads us into the uncertainty: what does it mean to clean, sanitize, and disinfect?
What is Cleaning?
Cleaning involves the physical removal of impurities from a surface, such as the literal removal of things like dirt, dust, debris, grime, food, and other types of organic matter that may or may not contain germs. Cleaning usually involves using common cleaning equipment such as mops, brooms, sponges, and cloth in union with detergent, water, and types of soap.
Cleaning should be performed regularly as it helps to improve the appearance of a home or workplace, and reduce the number of germs that can spread infection. Keep in mind that cleaning does not kill germs, but with fewer germs in total, your home will be a safer place. Be sure to always clean before carrying out sanitation or disinfection.
What is Sanitizing?
Sanitizing involves reducing the number of germs on objects and surfaces to levels that are considered safe. Safe levels of germs largely depend on the context and the relevant public health standards - for example, restaurants and hospitals will have higher thresholds of safety. The sanitation process includes using mild bleach solutions or sanitizing sprays (unlike potentially harmful disinfectants), and while they can be designed to kill bacteria on surfaces using chemicals, they are not intended to kill viruses.
Sanitizing needs to be completed more frequently in areas that have high-traffic such as door knobs, light switches, and frequently used tools. They should also be used on objects that come in contact with the mouth, such as toys, kitchen tables, food preparation areas, countertops, and infant feeding supplies. Some sanitizers need to be left on the surface for a particular period of time. Cleaning them off too soon could prevent them from working effectively.
What is Disinfecting?
Disinfecting involves killing the remaining germs on surfaces, and it often utilizes government-approved disinfectant products, heat, or strong bleach/alcohol solutions. Perhaps most important to know is that disinfection kills all germs - both bacteria and viruses. This means that for keeping your family safe against diseases such as the Coronavirus, you will need to disinfect, but it does not necessarily clean objects.
It is recommended to disinfect surfaces when someone is sick in your household or if someone is at a higher risk of getting sick due to a weakened immune system. Disinfectants tend to be more dangerous types of chemicals, so be careful about how you apply them and to which objects you apply them.
How Can You Safely Clean, Sanitize, and Disinfect?
It’s very important to be as safe as possible when using cleaning, sanitation, and disinfecting products because they often use hazardous chemicals to work effectively. Take the following steps in order to safely clean, sanitize, and disinfect your home:
- Store cleaning, sanitation, and disinfectant agents in the same container that they came in and out of reach of children.
- Instruct children not to touch or ingest these chemicals.
- Do not mix cleaners, sanitizers, or disinfectants together unless labels on the products say that it is safe to do so. For example, chlorine bleach and ammonia mixed can cause serious injury or death, so always be cautious and follow directions.
- Follow all instructions and warnings on the product labels.
- Use gloves and eye protection if a product’s label recommends it.
- Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if you’ve had a chemical exposure to cleaners or disinfectants.
House Cleaning in Fort Collins
Properly cleaning a home takes patience, attention to detail, and knowledge of how products work. The first step is to ensure your home is thoroughly cleaned, which is often easier said than done. If you want to ensure that your home is cleaned to the highest professional standards, don't hesitate to seek help from Clean Bees for house cleaning services in Fort Collins. We help households and businesses throughout Northern Colorado remain safe, happy, and healthy, and we would be honored to help you too!
