5 Steps to Cleaning and Sanitizing

September 27, 2019 Leave a Comment

Cleaning and sanitizing are extremely important, especially in commercial and public settings where the spread of infection happens so easily. Even when cleaning and sanitizing is done on a regular basis, it isn't always done effectively. That's because many people don't understand how to clean and sanitize properly. Different environments can require more specific steps to proper cleaning and sanitizing. A commercial kitchen, for instance, must be cleaned and sanitized according to guidelines laid out and enforced by various state and local government agencies, including the Food and Drug administration (FDA). These guidelines ensure there will be maximum effectiveness and improved consumer safety. For these reasons, it's important to understand the proper steps needed for more effective cleaning and sanitizing.

Are There Differences Between Cleaning and Sanitizing?

Yes. Although these two words are used interchangeably by many people, there is a huge difference between cleaning and sanitizing. Cleaning is literally defined by the physical act of wiping away dirt, grime, and stains from any area. It also encompasses vacuuming, dusting, and other acts that are generally designed to make an area look appealing. Cleaning is often only aesthetic in value. It doesn't mean you've sanitized an area or removed germs and bacteria. Many people clean their homes on a regular basis but leave behind plenty of germs. Examples of cleaning products include abrasive cleaners, detergents, acidic cleaners, and solvents. Many of these products do the job but contain harmful chemicals that can pose a threat to consumers and their pets. According to the EPA, they can be especially harmful to children and pets because there is a closer proximity to areas where these products are used and because the smaller body organs are less likely to be able to resist the potential dangers.

There are many different types of sanitizers. To further complicate matters, the word "disinfect" is often used interchangeably with "sanitize." These two words have different meanings. Disinfecting a surface will kill specific microscopic organisms. Which of these organisms a product will kill can be different and is indicated on a product's label. All disinfectant products do not kill all harmful organisms. Sanitizing, on the other hand, is meant to significantly reduce the growth of fungi, viruses, and other harmful bacteria. Even if you thoroughly clean a surface, it's important to sanitize if you want to maintain a safer environment. A good sanitizer will greatly reduce all bacteria, not just specific kinds. That's why sanitizing is an important element of the cleaning process in hospitals, food services, schools, and work environments. Sanitizers reduce microbiological contamination to levels that conform to local health regulations.


There are many different ways you can sanitize an area. Three methods include heat, radiation, and the use of chemical-based products. In fact, chemicals are present in many sanitizers because the common belief is that it takes potent chemicals to kill bacteria; therefore the chemicals in sanitizing products are designed to help sanitize effectively. The potential risk to consumers, their pets, and to the environment are severe. Many store-bought sanitizers contain chemicals that cause skin rashes, breathing difficulty (due to fumes being inhaled), and irritation of the eyes. Some of the common ingredients in sanitizers include chlorine, ammonium, and iodine. While they may work when sanitizing, the end result is certainly not worth the associated risks.

Proper cleaning and sanitizing should follow a step by step method.

1. Remove excess dirt by scraping or cleaning. If there is an excessive amount of grime on the surface, you may want to soak it and let it sit before cleaning.
2. Use hot water and an appropriate cleaner to wipe the surface clean.
3. Rinse the area you've cleaned to remove anything you may have left behind and to ensure that the product you've used to clean the surface has been completely removed as well. This is particularly important because you don't want to leave behind any cleaning residue that contains harsh chemicals.
4. Sanitize the area using a product that is designed for sanitizing. Always ensure the product is used correctly. Many DIY methods suggest using 1 tablespoon of bleach in a gallon of water as a sanitizing solution. Bleach fumes can be dangerous in close quarters, however, so it is important to exercise caution when using it.
5. Wipe the sanitized surface again to remove any excess residue left behind by the bleach or your sanitizing product. This helps ensure that no dangerous chemicals are left behind on the surface.

A Better Way to Clean and Sanitize

GenEon has a better way to clean and sanitize both commercial and residential environments. We offer a range of safe cleaners along with toxic-free sanitizers that are eco-friendly and even more effective than traditional chemical-based cleaners. Our safe cleaners and toxic-free sanitizers are the perfect way to clean and sanitize any area, large or small, while protecting the environment and giving consumers a better choice.

GenEon products are produced with technology. This means that consumers make their cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting products on site. The end result is a powerful, cost effective way to clean, sanitize, and disinfect without the need to store potentially harmful chemical-based cleaning products on your premises. Since the products are made on demand, as you need them, they are also cost effective. This is how on-site generation works: The process is called electrochemical activation (ECA). One of the natural minerals that GenEon uses as a catalyst is salt. Salt is a compound comprised of sodium and chloride. Sodium ions are positively charged and chloride ions are negatively charged. GenEon Onsite Generators expose these ions to a low electrical charge. The positive side of the charge electrochemically converts the chloride ion (Cl) to hypochlorous acid (HOCl), which is a powerful sanitizer. The negative side of the charge electrochemically converts the sodium ion (Na) into sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which is a cleaning compound commonly found in soaps and detergents. Unlike many other OSG systems, GenEon's system is a Blended Stream System that uses both versions in the same solution. The hypochlorous solution is represented as Free Available Chlorine (FAC) that has 80-200 times the sanitizing power of chlorine bleach. Since it is produced at a near neutral pH, it won't bleach out furniture or clothes. This is called electrolyzed water for cleaning; GenEon is the leader in on-site generation of Electrolyzed Water used for cleaning on demand applications.


GenEon also offers a range of on-site generation technology that includes the Immerse-A-Clean Wand, which provides portable handheld Electro-Chemical Activation/ Electrolyzing Technology for making cleaning, degreasing, sanitizing, and disinfecting solutions on demand and the InstaFlow system, a compact, hight-volume Electro-Chemical Activtion Technology perfect for commercial settings. We also offer advanced systems for effective distribution of our sustainable on-site cleaning and sanitizing products. Our Mist Sprayer Blower and our compact Mist 2.5 used in conjunction with our on-site generators and our sustainable cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting products provide a complete eco-friendly system for keeping any environment free of germs and bacteria. For more information about any of our products, call us at 866.217.0205.


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