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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Sanitizing vs. Disinfecting vs. Sterilizing

3/8/2021 (Permalink)

Person cleaning surface with blue rags in PPE Using the right products is important for the safety and health of your family.

To ordinary people, these three terms are often used interchangeably despite describing three different types of antimicrobials.  According to the EPA, antimicrobials are products that "destroy or suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi on inanimate objects and surfaces."

Sanitizing - describes the act of reducing bacteria on a surface.  It is commonly used in kitchens and food preparation areas, and is the weakest type of public health antimicrobial.

Disinfectants - much stronger and will kill and prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi.  Some, but not all, types of disinfectants can kill viruses like HIV, respiratory syncytial virus, and coronavirus varieties.  They are most commonly used in the medical industry and should not be used on surfaces that come in contact with food.

Sterilizers - the strongest of the antimicrobial category.  In addition to killing live fungi and bacteria, they can also reduce the spores that create new microbes.  Training and certification are usually required to handles and use these products.

Hybrids - some products are combined sanitizer and disinfectant, which are useful when you not only need to disinfect an area, but also need to clean away material and residue that provide breeding grounds for new bacteria and viruses.

At SERVPRO, we are lucky to have our own chemists on staff to develop professional-grade products such as SERVPROXIDE.  It is designed to kill harmful bacteria, viruses, and mold on hard surfaces, and is also effective for sanitizing soft surfaces.  It is formulated for everyday use because it meets the lowest toxicity rating approved by the EPA.  It may be used around children, infants, pets (dogs and cats), and food preparation.  As a consumer you are now able to purchase it on Amazon so you have confidence in the cleanliness of your home or business.

SERVPRO of Muskegon has the training and professional-grade products to get the job done right!  Call us today, 231-733-7601

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