Cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting – it’s all the same, right? Wrong. You might be surprised to learn that even though people tend to use the terms interchangeably, there is a significant difference between cleaning products, sanitizers, and disinfectants. Misting and spraying solutions are also distinct, as are deodorizers and odor eliminators. For the best clean possible, be careful what you buy to clean your house. Not all products are created equal.
Be Careful What You Buy to Clean Your House
When you simply clean the surfaces in your home, you are removing visible debris, dirt, and dust. But cleaning alone does not remove all germs and odors. In fact, without using the proper sanitizing and disinfecting solutions, your cleaning tools could actually be spreading disease through cross-contamination (source). Learning the difference between these terms will help you make an educated decision regarding which products to buy to clean your home.
Sanitizers vs. Disinfectants
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way to completely clean your home is to first wash surfaces with soap and warm, clean water. Then, sanitize surfaces with household bleach. Finally, disinfect your surfaces to fully stop the spread of germs and their odors.
So what’s the difference between sanitizers and disinfectants? Sanitizers are products that quickly lessen germs on your household surfaces to make them safer for everyday contact. But they don’t remove everything. Disinfectants are stronger, longer-lasting solutions that destroy germs and other microscopic organisms (source). Disinfectants, like our hospital-grade SafeSpace Disinfecting and Deodorizing Germ Fogger, kill germs and make your home a safer place.
Deodorizers vs. Odor Eliminators
Ever wonder where household or auto odors come from? Lingering microorganisms. Germs and bacteria emit a foul-smelling gas into your home or car that can be taken care of in one of two ways: with a deodorizer or with an odor eliminator. But which product works better? Well, deodorizers just mask the smell. They release a scent meant to cover the foul odor, and do nothing to actually eliminate smells permanently. Disinfectants and odor eliminators kill the organisms that cause the odors, leaving your house smelling fresher than before.
Thus, the best way to freshen your home is to first use an odor eliminator to eliminate odor-producing organisms and their smells. Then, feel free to use an air-freshening product that will add good scent back into your already clean air.
Mist vs. Spray
Another consideration to keep in mind when buying products to clean your house or vehicle is the difference between mist nozzles and spray nozzles. Spray nozzles are coarser and leave larger droplets of product on your surfaces. These larger droplets cannot readily absorb into the surrounding air, meaning that the only surfaces a spray product is disinfecting . . . are the exact spots where the droplets landed. Misting bottles and products generate an ultra-fine mist that leaves no spots, stains, or residue on your surfaces. Plus, they more effectively disinfect the surrounding air. Take our SafeSpace Auto Disinfecting & Deodorizing Mist for example. A three- to five-second release of the mist into the average car interior eliminates odor-producing organisms, leaving the interior smelling fresh and clean.
SafeSpace Products
Looking for the best products to clean your house or car? Check out SafeSpace. The SafeSpace Company is a family-owned small business proudly selling American-made germ foggers, auto disinfecting and deodorizing mists, and alcohol-free hand sanitizers to keep your family healthy. For more information about our products, contact us online or call us toll free at 1-800-735-2506. We would love to hear from you!
Copyright SafeSpace Company 2017
