September 03, 2021

What is the major difference between cleaning and disinfecting your home?

A lot of us use both the terms interchangeably without even noticing it. No harm done till the time you try to substitute one from another! These are two completely different procedures that are ideally combined to get a spotless home that is not only super clean but also germ-free. Please do note that you can proceed with disinfecting without cleaning but cleaning can be done without disinfecting. So what exactly is the cleaning v/s disinfecting debate? The answer is simple - if you wish to kill all the hidden germs & bacteria, disinfection is the ultimate solution.

Even if your house appears to be pristine, unseen germs could be waiting to infect the next person who comes into contact with them. It's vital to grasp the differences between "cleaning," "disinfecting," and "sanitizing," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For germ-free environments especially in big spaces like schools, hospitals, and public places, a combination of all three is highly recommended. But for your home, the two-step process of cleaning and disinfecting is more than enough.

This cleaning can be defined as a surface-level activity that gets rid of visible dust, dirt, grime, and other impurities from floors, cabinets, etc. A simple vacuum, doing your dishes, dusting, mopping the floor with water keeps your home look and feel clean. Try following range of our products for effective cleaning:

Eco-friendly Floor Cleaner With Geranium & Lavender Essential Oil
Eco-friendly Bathroom Cleaner With Sweet Orange & Lemon Essential Oil
Eco-friendly Laundry Detergent With Geranium & Lavender Essential Oil
Eco-friendly All Surface Cleaner With Ylang Ylang & Lavender Essential Oil
Eco-friendly Glass Cleaner With Patchouli & Lavender Essential Oil

Disinfecting, on the other hand, kills germs, bacteria, and viruses that are not visible to naked eyes. These harsh chemicals are tested and known to disinfect all kinds of surfaces in no time. Following are some of the widely used chemicals:

Bleach/Chlorine
Isopropyl Alcohol
Phenol
Hydrogen Peroxide
Formaldehyde

Sanitizing is the further step of disinfection, it is a process of removing germs from surfaces to comply with public health regulations. Sanitization products include:

Hand sanitizers
Any surface cleaners that has disinfectant as an active ingredient

Don’t substitute Cleaning with Disinfection

Disinfectants or Sanitizers are not intended to clean, so if you think wiping the surface directly with them gives you additional protection, it couldn’t be far from wrong. After removing visible dirt and grime from a surface with a cleaning product, follow the label's instructions for applying a disinfectant or sanitizer. A disinfectant product may need to remain on a surface for up to 10 minutes, depending on the active components, to ensure that all germs are destroyed.

The only exception to the above scenario is the very recent Covid outbreak. Cleaning will not be enough if you wish to contain the virus or eradicate it. You must have noticed individuals and families using disinfectants on every surface like a water tap, faucets, doorknobs, etc. This is indeed a good practice.

How to do effective Cleaning & Disinfecting of your home

Now that you understand their difference, the importance of cleaning & disinfecting cannot be denied. Combining both activities is a powerful package to ensure the healthy and happy lives of everyone at home.

Daily Cleaning

The visible dirt, grime & dust are the surface covers of all the germs that are hidden underneath. This would mean cleaning all the surfaces which are frequently touched by people like tables, chairs, kitchen slab, bathroom fixtures, etc. If daily disinfecting is not possible, use air deodorizers. You can simply clean the area with only water or soap. Daily cleaning is a good habit to be encouraged within a family.

Routine Cleaning & Disinfecting

Many studies have confirmed that any virus can infect within a span of 48 hrs. So cleaning & disinfecting the surfaces as a routine (once a day) is the fair choice. Extensive disinfection including cleaning the walls and ceilings, utilizing room air deodorizers regularly, and fumigating is not required or advised

Use correct procedures

There is no point in cleaning and disinfecting if you are not doing it in the right way. Whatever product you decide to use - floor cleaners, glass cleaners, detergent, etc, each product comes with a set of instructions to be followed. It gives you information about the dosage amount, precautions, and most importantly “how to use” guide. Read the labels for all such information.

Avoid plain water for cleaning

The cleaning v/s disinfecting debate has been going on for ages. But for 100% germ protection and a spotless environment, a combination of both is necessary. Unfortunately, many individuals to avoid the toxicity of chemicals use plain water for wiping the surfaces after cleaning. Try using clean alternatives or green products if you wish to avoid harsh chemicals in your home. These products are manufactured using all-natural ingredients which are completely biodegradable. How chemicals in your regular cleaning products can cause environmental and health hazards, read here.

Cleaning V/S Disinfecting - Why should you do both?

With the outbreak of COVID 19, the importance of cleaning & disinfection is understood by many. How to clean & disinfect your home during COVID 19, read here. Before the disinfection, surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned. Surfaces and equipment are prepared for disinfection by removing dirt, debris, and dust. Germs and bacteria can thrive in soils. When there are surface soils, disinfection becomes less efficient.

Even if a surface is disinfected before being cleaned, the leftover soils can still aid in the growth of hazardous microorganisms and lead to subsequent contamination. These leftover soils don't allow the disinfectant to reach the surface. If the surfaces are cleaned first then disinfection becomes more effective.

Clean living is healthy living! And while cleaning, choose eco-friendly alternatives because as much as cleaning matters, how you clean matters too! Check out PureCult’s wide range of home cleaning products that are not only effective in cleaning, but also environment-friendly, pet-friendly and kids-safe.