Sanitize vs. disinfect: what’s the difference?
The short answer
Sanitize typically reduces the number of germs to a safe level as judged by public health standards, while disinfect refers to the process of killing nearly all of the germs on surfaces.
What they have in common
Both terms refer to cleaning processes that remove or kill germs to make environments safer.
Examples
sanitize
- Please sanitize the kitchen counter before preparing food.
- You should sanitize your hands after using the restroom.
- The daycare has strict rules to sanitize toys regularly.
disinfect
- We need to disinfect the hospital rooms to prevent the spread of infection.
- Use bleach to disinfect surfaces that may carry bacteria.
- The lab technician made sure to disinfect all the equipment after use.
Which one is more common?
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