The Difference Between Disinfection and Sanitation

It is common to use the words disinfect and sanitize interchangeably as they are both cleaning terms that mean reducing the number of pathogens on a surface. But the words and their use are not interchangeable. Sanitize refers to a condition, while disinfection is the process used to reach sanitary conditions.

Description vs. Action

Sanitation is the appropriate word used when describing what looks like a safe object. A sanitary home, for example, has germs. However, these germs are present at levels that will not harm the humans and animals that come in contact with the pathogens. The process of making the home sanitary is disinfecting. The term refers to the act of cleaning in a way to removes dust, dirt and pathogens from the area. Thus, baby bottles boiled in water are not sanitized but disinfected.

Products

University of Hillyard introduces another difference in the two words, used when describing cleaning effectiveness. The university states that the names disinfectant and sanitizer describe a product that gets rid of all pathogens specified in 10 minutes, while a sanitizer gets rid of 99.9 percent of the pathogens in 30 seconds. Although the sanitizer works much faster, the disinfectant is more effective in getting the job done.

Product Uses

The two types of cleaning products are sought after in two different areas for cleaning. Medical establishments seek disinfectants because they need to get rid of all the pathogens indicated on the product label. Businesses working in food preparation look for sanitizers as their speed brings items to mandatory levels fast.

Misconceptions

Sanitation does not require the cleaner to make the object free of pathogens. To be sanitary, the surface must have the amount of pathogens present reduced to what is known as a safe level. Both disinfectants and sanitizers are supposed to remove dirt in addition to pathogens.

"Disinfectants vs. Sanitizers," University of Hillyard.
"Choosing the Proper Sanitizer or Disinfectant,"