When should a workplace disinfect instead of sanitize?

Disinfect restrooms and high-touch shared devices daily, and increase disinfection during flu season or outbreaks. Use sanitizing for routine touchpoints in normal operations, and always clean first.

Why is dwell time important for disinfectants?

Dwell (contact) time is the minutes a surface must stay visibly wet to achieve the kill claims on the label. Wiping a surface dry early reduces effectiveness.

How do I choose the right level of cleaning for my office?

Use a layered approach: clean daily to remove soils, sanitize frequent touchpoints, and disinfect high-risk areas like restrooms and shared devices. Regulated environments should follow their specific protocols.

What’s the Difference Between Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting?

Q: What is the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting?

Cleaning removes dirt and many germs using detergent and friction. Sanitizing reduces germs to safer levels with a sanitizer. Disinfecting kills specified germs on hard, nonporous surfaces using an EPA-registered disinfectant and proper dwell time.

Clean Advocate
Oct 27
2 min read

Person dusts a wooden surface with a green cloth near a lamp. Bright, tidy room setting, emphasizing cleanliness and care.

If you’ve ever wondered which level of “clean” your workspace really needs, you’re not alone. The terms sound similar, but they do different jobs. Here’s a simple guide to help Austin businesses choose the right approach for the right area.

Cleaning (removes)

What it does: Physically removes dirt, dust, and many germs from surfaces using detergent and friction.
Where it fits: Desks, floors, glass, common areas.
Why it matters: Fewer soils = fewer places for germs to live. It’s the foundation of all other steps.

Sanitizing (reduces)

What it does: Lowers the number of germs on a surface to a safer level using a sanitizer.
Where it fits: Food-contact and hand-touch surfaces in breakrooms; high-touch office areas during normal operations.
Key point: Works best after cleaning, not instead of it.

Disinfecting (kills)

What it does: Uses an EPA-registered disinfectant to kill specified germs on hard, nonporous surfaces.
Where it fits: Restrooms, doorknobs, shared keyboards/phones, medical/procedural areas per policy.
Critical detail: Follow dwell (contact) time on the label—surface must stay visibly wet for the stated minutes to be effective.

How to choose the right approach

Everyday offices: Clean daily; sanitize frequent touchpoints; disinfect restrooms and shared devices.
Higher-risk periods (flu season or outbreaks): Increase frequency of touchpoint disinfection and hand-hygiene supplies.
Regulated environments: Follow your industry policy (e.g., medical suites have specific protocols).

Common mistakes to avoid

Skipping the clean step: Dirt and residue can block sanitizers/disinfectants.
Not honoring dwell time: Spray-and-wipe immediately ≠ disinfecting.
Using one product for everything: Match chemistry to the task and surface.
Over-disinfecting: It’s not always better—save it for high-touch/high-risk areas to reduce chemical load and costs.

The Austin context

Open-plan offices, shared studios, and mixed-use spaces are common here. A layered program—clean → sanitize daily, disinfect where it counts—keeps teams healthy without overusing chemicals.

Our approach

At Clean Advocate, we build clear, right-sized plans: daily cleaning to remove soils, targeted sanitizing for touchpoints, and scheduled disinfection where it truly matters. Clear scopes, labeled products, and documented dwell times—so you can trust the process and the result.

👉 Schedule your free walkthrough for a plan that fits your space and standards—clarity, consistency, and care.

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