Have you ever wondered what the difference is between sanitising and cleaning? It may seem like they are both pretty similar, but there are some crucial differences between them. When it comes to office hygiene, you’ll want to ensure you do both to keep your workspace looking great while also eliminating harmful bacteria and germs, so understanding the difference between cleaning and sanitising is of utmost importance.
What is cleaning?
The term cleaning means the removal of dirt, dust, and debris from surfaces. Cleaning can be considered as taking something that looks dirty, messy, or untidy and making it clean, orderly, and neat. Cleaning will remove what’s visibly dirty and usually involves wiping down surfaces with a cloth or wipe and detergent, soap, or other cleaning products. Cleaning alone can make your office look nice and smell fresh, but it won’t eliminate bacteria and viruses from the workspace. Cleaning usually acts as the warm-up or the starter when sanitising is the main event that will ensure your workplace is hygienic and minimise your employee’s risk of spreading germs.
What is sanitising?
Sanitising will reduce the levels of germs and bacteria on a surface but will not destroy them. Sanitising lowers the numbers of these viruses to a level typically deemed safe per public health guidelines. Sanitising is a popular choice over a harsher treatment such as sterilising (which kills the microorganisms) because it requires less harsh chemicals while still being an effective way to ensure a healthy, hygienic workplace.
Sanitisers are often used in areas such as kitchens, where food preparation takes place – though it’s always a good idea to check the label of any chemical you use to clean to ensure food safety.
Disinfecting and Sterilising
Disinfecting and sterilising are additional options for those looking for a deeper and more effective germ-busting clean. Disinfection works to kill bacteria and viruses, making them a reliable method to reduce the spread of infection in the workplace. One can use disinfectants in food preparation areas if they are deemed safe. It is a more potent cleaning method than sanitising as it will kill germs rather than reduce the amount. Bathrooms, door handles, office equipment, and other high-touch areas would benefit from disinfection.
Sterilising works to destroy completely any form of microbial life. This process is most commonly used in hospitals, such as rooms where surgery might be performed or in laboratories.
Should I clean or sanitise my office?
If you want to have a workplace that looks not only clean and tidy but also promotes good health and hygiene amongst employees and reduces the spread of disease, both cleaning and sanitising should take place regularly. Cleaning is always the first step towards decontamination. Clearing away clutter and wiping visible dirt and dust from areas enables the sterilisation process to work more effectively.
Some areas have a lower risk of transferring germs than others and, therefore, may not need to be sterilised as frequently. Floors, lighting, and windows, for example, may only require cleaning as these are not significant touchpoints and, therefore, are less likely to become contaminated with harmful germs or bacteria.
Cleaning, sanitising and disinfection from Alliance Cleaning
Understanding how to protect your workplace from infection is more important than ever. Using appropriate cleaning methods will ensure your office is clean and safe.
Cleaning, sanitising, disinfecting, and sterilising are not interchangeable, and each has a different purpose. At Alliance cleaning, we offer a comprehensive range of cleaning services to ensure your offices are sparkling clean all year round. We also provide sanitisation and disinfection services to ensure your premises remain safe from germs and bacteria which could cause disease. Our innovative chemicals are used in the NHS and have effective kill rates against pathogens such as Coronavirus while remaining safe to use in the workplace.
Our Electrostatic Spray Sanitisation & Disinfection kills 99.99% of bacteria, bugs, & viruses.
If you are looking for reliable and effective cleaning and sanitisation services for your office, contact our expert team today to discuss your needs or get an online quote.
