What Is the Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting?

There’s a lot of talk right now about several ways to make sure that germs from the novel coronavirus are removed from your senior’s home. First, hand washing is vital. But it’s equally vital that she’s got cleaned and disinfected surfaces in her home. Is there really a difference between cleaning a surface and disinfecting it? There really is.

Both Are Essential During the Coronavirus Pandemic

The reason that you’re hearing so much about cleaning and disinfecting is that both processes are necessary right now. They sound like they’re the same thing, and some people might use some of the same products to both clean and disinfect. But they’re actually very different processes and can yield some very different results in your senior’s home.

Cleaning Removes Dirt

Cleaning something means that you’re removing dirt and even some germs from the surface. The most obvious example is when you spill something on the counter and use a cleaning product to remove the spill. You’ve removed whatever was spilled, but if there were germs involved, you probably didn’t get them all. Cleaning is something that likely gets done on a regular basis, if not daily. Disinfecting is part of deeper cleaning and should also be done regularly.

Disinfecting Kills Germs

While cleaning can remove some germs, it definitely doesn’t remove them all. Some germs are really stubborn and need more. Disinfecting is the process of using a specific product that is cleared for disinfecting to kill germs on surfaces. Most of the time with cleaning, you’ll spray a cleaning product and immediately wipe the area. Disinfectants usually get sprayed onto a surface or wiped onto a surface and then are left to dry.

Recommendations from the CDC

The Centers for Disease Control have some recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Your senior’s normal cleaning processes might be quite effective enough. Disinfecting may be necessary more often. There are EPA-approved household disinfectants, but it’s also possible to use a simple bleach or alcohol solution to disinfect. Never use both bleach and alcohol together. If your senior is using a commercially-prepared disinfectant, she should follow the direction on the label carefully.

It might be difficult for your senior to handle both cleaning and disinfecting her home on her own. Senior care providers can take care of that for her, ensuring that she’s in a clean and disinfected environment every day.

If you are considering senior care in Tower Road, FL, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts Home Care. Call today: 352-225-3727.

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