Sanitize Vs Disinfect: Which Is Better?

You might be surprised to learn that, even though people tend to use the terms interchangeably, there's a legal difference. In the United States, sanitizers are agents that destroy 99.999 percent of bacteria in 30 seconds during the Official Detergent Sanitizer Test (a public health test). A good way to understand the logic behind this test is to think of a bartender washing glasses. He'll have to kill as many germs as possible in a short time to be able to put the glasses away quickly.

On the other hand, disinfectants are products that destroy all organisms (including infectious fungi and bacteria) in 10 minutes during the AOAC Use Dilution Test, a test regulated by the EPA to determine the efficiency of disinfectants. In a hospital situation it's more important to kill all germs even if it takes longer rather than to kill most of them quickly.

Since the CDC is respected as an authority when it comes to disease control, killing dangerous bacteria and microbial life, here's how they explain the differences:

Soap and Water

Cleaning only removes visible dirt and germs from surfaces. This method doesn't kill germs, but by removing them physically, you're lowering their number and your risk of infection.

Disinfectants

Disinfecting uses chemicals to destroy germs not visible to the naked eye rather than simply reducing them. The procedure may not necessarily clean a dirty surface, but by disinfecting it, you reduce the risk of infection. You might disinfect areas where you change a baby's diaper. Hospitals disinfect areas that have come into contact with blood or other bodily fluids.

Hand Sanitizers

Sanitizing lowers the number of germs to a safe level as judged by public health standards. It can involve either cleaning or disinfecting (or both). Usually you sanitize in kitchens and other areas that come into contact with food. For example, you sanitize dishes and utensils after using them. You may also sanitize toys that children put in their mouths.

If you're trying to get rid of harmful bacteria and kill viruses (for instance during flu season or a pandemic outbreak), you'll want to disinfect rather than sanitize. EPA-approved sanitizers only take care of bacteria, while EPA-approved disinfectants kill both bacteria and viruses.

On the next page we'll talk about how to disinfect and sanitize using bleach.

To sanitize or disinfect in your home, you generally start with bleach and cool water in a bucket (hot water decreases effectiveness). Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. Make sure that you're using a bleach concentration appropriate for household rather than industrial use. Concentrations of 5.25 percent or 6 percent hypochlorite are safe for use in the house.

If you're sanitizing, use 1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 gallon of water (or 1 teaspoon to 1 quart). Transfer the solution to a spray bottle and spray the item you want to sanitize (or dip from the bucket and wipe the item with paper towels). Leave the solution on the area for at least one minute before rinsing. This solution can be used to properly wash toys, eating utensils, and objects that will come into contact with mouths.

If you're disinfecting, mix 1/3 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water or 4 teaspoons to a quart. Since this concentration is stronger, use it only to disinfect areas that will not have contact with food or mouths – like changing tables, potty chairs, hospital areas and floors. Again, any place with a strong exposure rate involving bodily fluids.

You also should expose the area to bleach solution for a longer period of time. As we mentioned earlier, the official test for disinfecting mandates that 10 minutes be allowed to kill bacteria, but usually an exposure of two to three minutes is enough. Note: Bleach solutions are only good for 24 hours.