Hygiene, Purification, Disinfection, Safety, Cleaning

"Sanitizing" means to clean thoroughly, removing bacteria and harmful substances, to make an environment or surface hygienic. This is an action that goes beyond simple cleaning, aimed at reducing the microbial load present, but which does not necessarily completely eliminate all pathogens, as disinfection does.

Insight

1. Cleaning vs. Sanitization: Cleaning refers to the removal of visible dirt, while sanitization aims to eliminate or reduce the presence of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, etc.).
2. Sanitization vs. Disinfection: Sanitization, often obtained with disinfectant detergents, reduces the microbial load, but does not always eliminate it completely. Disinfection, on the other hand, uses more powerful products that aim to kill microorganisms.
3. Example: Using a degreaser to clean the hob is a sanitization action. Using a disinfectant detergent for the same hob is a disinfection action.
4. When to sanitize: Sanitizing is recommended for daily cleaning, especially in domestic environments, to reduce the risk of proliferation of bacteria and viruses.
5. Sanitizing products: Specific detergents, sanitizing sprays or solutions of water and bleach can be used (with due precautions).