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FAQs About the Differences Between Disinfecting & Sanitizing

Republished from cleaninginstitute.org  |  August 30, 2012

Q: What is the difference between a disinfectant, an antimicrobial, and a sanitizing product?

A: Disinfectants and antimicrobials destroy pathogenic microorganisms. These two terms are used interchangeably. Sanitizers reduce the number of microorganisms to a safe level by killing them; typically, sanitizers kill 99.9% of these germs.

Any product that claims to kill bacteria or viruses must be registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, so look for products that have an EPA registration number on the product label. For Canadian products, look for the Drug Identification Number (DIN) or the Health Canada registration number.

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Topics: workplace wellness, disinfecting, cleaning tips