Clean Before Disinfecting: A Critical Two-Step Process

Did you know that cold and flu viruses and other germs can remain active for hours on some surfaces?

And while you might think efficiency is the name of the game when it comes to cleaning, oftentimes our cleaning shortcuts leave out a critical step: to clean and disinfect properly, both steps need to happen in the right order. One common mistake is neglecting to clean a surface before disinfecting it.

Many people believe that disinfectants are a 2-for-1 deal that can effectively clean a surface as well as eliminate germs. In fact, this common misconception can potentially expose your household to illness-causing pathogens.

Cleaning Vs. Disinfecting: Know the Difference

Let's take a step back and explain some of the terminology used to describe the cleaning and disinfecting process.

• CLEAN: The physical or mechanical removal of dirt and grime by scrubbing, washing, and rinsing. It's essentially the "elbow-grease" part of the process, where you scrub a surface with a cleaning product, like Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner.
• SANITIZE: Reducing germs and bacteria down to a less dangerous level on surfaces and in laundry.
• DISINFECT: Killing all applicable bacteria and viruses on a surface to an EPA-designated, extremely low tolerance. Disinfecting destroys or inactivates both the bacteria and viruses identified on the product's label (like influenza and rhinovirus) on hard, nonporous surfaces.
• KILL TIME: Also referred to as dwell time or contact time. All disinfecting products need to stay wet on a surface for a specific length of time to kill bacteria and viruses. This is what we mean when we say kill, dwell, or contact time. The kill time varies by product and can always be found on the product label.

Why Clean First?

You might be asking yourself, isn't disinfecting enough? Why do I need to clean something before I reach for a disinfectant?

The CDC recommends that surfaces be cleaned before disinfecting, so illness-causing pathogens don't have a place to hide. According to the CDC, "impurities like dirt may make it harder for sanitizing or disinfecting chemicals to kill germs."

The CDC further clarifies that cleaning and disinfecting go hand-in-hand, and to fully decontaminate a surface, both steps must be implemented.

Think of it this way: if there's any kind of dirt or grime on a surface, it can cover up tiny little germs and bacteria, making it harder for a disinfectant to do its job.

As an example, if you're baking a cake, there's a good chance your kitchen counter will end up covered in egg, flour, sugar, and other ingredients. This can potentially lead to Salmonella contamination, which can cause serious illness.

To fully eliminate the risk, it's important to first clean your counter with an all-purpose cleaner to remove the visible dirt. Then, once your surface is prepped, you can use a disinfectant to eliminate any lingering germs.

It's important to keep in mind that not all disinfectants are equal, so be sure to follow the label directions for proper disinfecting procedures. You want to ensure you leave the disinfectant on wet long enough to reach the required kill time.

To Eliminate Germs: Remember "C Before D"

You may have noticed that there are a number of combined cleaner/disinfectant products on the market which offer a tempting one-step solution to the recommended two-step process.

And while two-in-one cleaner/disinfectants are somewhat effective at lifting dirt and killing surface-level pathogens, these products are not effective at thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting all at once. In fact, if you look closer, the instructions will often recommend applying these products to "pre-cleaned surfaces", which brings us right back to 'C before D'.

Remember, disinfectants don't clean, and cleaners don't disinfect.

To protect your family from cold and flu viruses, as well as other illness-causing germs, be sure you always "C" (clean) before "D" (disinfecting).

• STEP 1: Clean the surface with a household cleaner to remove any visible food or waste particles or fluids.
• STEP 2: Once you've fully cleaned the surface, apply disinfectant according to the label directions.

Clean and Disinfect Before Cold and Flu Season

Cold and flu season doesn't have to mean constant worry about germs in your home or workplace. By remembering to clean before you disinfect, you're giving every disinfecting product the best possible chance to do its job.

Start with a reliable all-purpose cleaner to lift dirt and grime, then follow up with a disinfectant and use according to the label directions. It's a simple two-step habit that makes a real difference in how effectively you protect your space.