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What is the difference between cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing?

Often times when it comes to the words clean, sanitize and disinfect they are used interchangeably. However, there is a significant difference between these terms and knowing what they mean can help keep your home or workplace a clean and safe environment.

Cleaning physically removes germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces or objects. It involves using soap or detergent and water along with a mechanical action such as wiping to remove germs from surfaces. Cleaning does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.

Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. In order to kill germs properly, chemicals need to be applied according to the label as each product is different. Disinfecting does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. In order for a product to be considered a sanitizer, it must reduce bacteria on a surface by at least 99.9 percent. This process works by either cleaning or disinfecting surfaces or objects to lower the risk of spreading infection.

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Are there any warning signs to look for?

If there are dark spots on your ceiling, floors or walls, this is a sure sign of mold growth. Musty odours and mildew are often also signs that mold may be growing in your home. Respiratory and allergy symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, trouble breathing and wheezing are a common indicator of mold growth as well. High humidity levels in the home that result in condensation on glass and metal surfaces are also a warning sign of mold.

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How long will it take my property to dry after flooding or other water damage?

Drying time after water damage in your commercial property is determined by a combination of factors including the location, duration and source of water; the types of building materials in your facility; weather conditions; and how quickly emergency services are started. Through consistent monitoring and evaluation of the drying process, our trained technicians can determine when the drying is complete. For example, carpet may feel dry to the touch, but padding and subfloors may still be wet underneath. While there are no hard and fast rules to determine how long your property will take to dry, we can tell you it may take between three and five days or more, depending on the conditions.

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