Because They Know The Difference Between Antibacterial, Cleaning, Sanitizing, Disinfecting
Do cleaning product or soap labels have you confused, too? When is it best to go for “antibacterial”, and when is the “disinfectant” what you need? To differentiate between them, chemistry definitely helps. But we just need to know, what chemistry makes each of your product choices do.
Cleaning Is Superficial
Cleaning a surface removes visible debris, dirt and dust. This helps you stay healthy, since allergens and microorganisms are cleaned away as well. But there is a risk of cross-contamination: the mopping solution and cleaning tools could be spreading disease in the absence of a germicide (an agent that kills pathogenic organisms; a disinfectant).
WHEN TO APPLY: low-risk surfaces, such as floors, windows, etc. with a low likelihood of pathogen being transferred from the surface.
Sanitizing Reduces The Number of Bacteria
Sanitizing means to make sanitary (by cleaning or sterilizing). Sanitizing a surface frees it from visible dirt contaminants that could damage your health. Bacteria, viruses, flu or fungi are the microorganisms commonly found on surfaces, but sanitizing doesn’t kill them. It just reduces their occurrence and growth. It means that you are killing the number of bacteria present by 99.9 percent (3 log10) while viruses and fungus remain untouched. Sanitizing is better than cleaning alone.
WHEN TO APPLY: Only for food contact surfaces, as required following the food code. Remember, it’s not anti-viral.
The minimum level of effectiveness in a modern-day disinfectant is 100 percent kill of 6 log10 of an organism. A sanitizer is only required to reduce that 6 log10 down to 3 Log10. We can put that into real numbers. If we start with 1 million organisms on a surface then a disinfectant must kill 100 percent of them; zero left. A sanitizer only reduces the number of organisms down to 1,000 and does nothing about virus and fungus.
A Disinfectant Is Antibacterial = Bacteria Killer
Disinfecting reduces pathogen populations on environmental surfaces to zero. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who regulates how cleaners are classified, a disinfectant must kill all microorganisms listed on the the product label list. Not only do disinfectants kill bacteria, but also do they destroy viruses and fungi. Sanitizing is better than cleaning, but disinfecting beats sanitizing.Disinfectants come as ready-to-use wipes featuring a variety of dwell times. The stronger the substrate they use, the faster they kill, the longer they stay wet and the greater the surface one of the wipes can cover. By selecting ready-to-use wipes with a strong substrate and that stay wet longer, staff can disinfect greater surface areas more effectively with fewer wipes reducing costs and delivering a better value for facilities. Depending on how wipes are used, there is even a wipe mileage (how much surface area can be covered with the wipe before used up): what you want is the same as when you fly around the globe — the further one wipe can take you, the better.When the mileage is the quantity, the capability of keeping a surface as wet as long as possible is the quality. Basically, when chemistries keep the surface wet for the full contact time, that is good. Those that are alcohol based generally evaporate before the end of the contact time which means that the surface is not properly disinfected: danger zone!
WHEN TO APPLY: Disinfectants are ideal for frequently touched surfaces and surfaces which are likely to harbor pathogens: high-traffic areas. Please consider the features of disinfection wipes carefully.
Better Safe Than Sorry Versus Go With The Risk Flow
Of course, you will be safest, when going for the strongest cleaning product. But in that case you will think only, what the product does to the dirty surface, and what the cleanliness does to your body. What you neglect in that case is, how the strong cleaning product chemicals also go into your health equation.
According to Tufts University, a study found that in 10 states, 76 percent of liquid soaps and 30 percent of bar soaps contained an antibacterial agent. Many kitchen, bathroom and household cleaners contain antibacterial or disinfecting chemicals. ”
So it’s always good to trust your common sense: In the cold and flu season you might want to switch to stronger products also at home, while you will do that as professional cleaning staff responsible for eliminating germs all year long. Obviously health care facilities where risks of infection are significant call for the most effective products as well. But if you use the strongest cleaning products in your home all year long, you may keep in mind also that antibacterial cleaners are said to create some antibacterial-resistant bacteria in some cases. And taking a few steps back it won’t harm to remember the big picture: bacteria are microorganisms, little living beings. 10% of your own body consist of bacteria. And we categorize bacteria by being good or bad to us. So no matter which cleaning product choice you make: it’s always good to know the Why of your choice.