Cleaning vs. Disinfecting

July 25, 2021 Leave a Comment

Cleaning and disinfecting are essential parts of standard institutional hygiene practices and in the routine upkeep of households. Both concepts are heavily intertwined, to the point that there are widespread misconceptions about what separates cleaning from disinfecting and when to use one over the other. Some people deem cleaning and disinfecting as the same thing, while others believe that you can achieve proper hygienic conditions by doing only one of the two. Considering all the losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and all the changes introduced in standing public health regulations, it's all the more important to shed light on these myths so people can correctly go about their cleaning and disinfecting routines using the right products to ensure the continued well-being of their loved ones and peers.

Cleaning vs. Disinfecting – What Are the Differences?

To get a fully hygienic environment, you need to both clean and disinfect. One shouldn't go without the other; they are separate steps in the same process. As such, there are usually different products coming into play when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.

• Cleaning: This is the first part of the process. When cleaning, you wash a surface or an object to get rid of dirt, residue, grease stains, debris, and dust. Depending on the products you use, you may remove some germs and bacteria, but cleaning products don't have the power to actually kill them. You should never start disinfecting an area without having cleaned all surfaces first.


• Disinfecting: In short, disinfect means killing germs, viruses, and bacteria. The product label on EPA-registered disinfectants usually specifies which microorganisms they can neutralize. Likewise, disinfectants are not meant to remove debris or stains, which is why you should always clean the surface right before using them.
  
  The concepts of disinfecting and sanitizing are also closely related, and as a result, people often consider these to be the same thing. In truth, sanitizing reduces the number of harmful microorganisms and stalls the growth of fungi while disinfection entails a broader range of killing power, reaching nearly all the germs, viruses, and bacteria collected on a surface.

Can Cleaning and Disinfecting Be Dangerous?

Many store-bought cleaning and disinfecting products contain chemicals that may be harmful to humans and pets. These chemical cleaners and disinfectants can contain harsh fumes that disrupt air quality and may double a person's risk of respiratory problems and other adverse effects. In addition to the increased likelihood of adverse health risks, the corrosive ingredients found in these products may damage the surfaces in your home, office, or wherever else they are applied.


Bleach, arguably the most common disinfectant on the market, is a prime example. The fumes released by bleach have been linked to asthma, allergies, skin infections, and other health problems. The risks are only enhanced when you add other ingredients commonly found in cleaning products, like ammonia and sodium hypochlorite.

Discover the Best Cleaners and Disinfectants

Thanks to GenEon's on-site generation technology, people can easily produce cleaning, degreasing, disinfecting, and sanitizing solutions on the spot through a simple process that's accessible to all users, from custodial staff to homeowners. Through electrochemically activated water (ECA) technology, GenEon harnesses the disinfecting power of minerals, water, and electricity to create the products needed to complete a proper cleaning and disinfecting routine from top to bottom.


GenEon's products simplify cleaning and disinfecting practices in all settings, including healthcare, hospitality, and most commercial establishments. The InstaFlow™ promotes truly sustainable cleaning through the creation of cleaning and disinfecting solutions on demand. You can infuse more versatility into your cleaning methods while forgoing toxic chemicals. Likewise, all of GenEon's Catalyst solutions are powered by natural minerals, working as all-purpose cleaners for large spaces and hard-to-reach areas.

Using a simple color-coded system to avoid mishaps, the solutions created through GenEon's technology are effective when it comes to cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting high-touch surfaces like tabletops, chair handles, doorknobs, and light switches, as well as large pieces of furniture and specialized equipment.

Here's what makes it possible: Natural minerals, i.e. salt, comprise sodium and chloride. The sodium ions are positively charged, while the chloride ions are negatively charged. GenEon's on-site generation technology exposes 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), a cleaning compound often found in soaps and detergents.


This way, you can add efficiency to your cleaning routine and prevent accidents, as well as long-term health complications resulting from constant exposure to chemical cleaners. GenEon's cleaning and disinfecting products help you save time and money while killing 99.999% of common germs, making our technology a staple of 'green' cleaning in healthcare facilities, businesses, and schools all over the country.

As you can see, there's no point in talking about cleaning vs. disinfecting as if one option surpasses the other in terms of effectiveness. If your goal is to sustain a hygienic environment indoors, both tasks are equally important. GenEon Technologies is here to respond to all your cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing needs. If you want to learn more about our on-site generation technology, contact our specialists by filling out the contact form on our website. You can trust GenEon to help you lead a healthier lifestyle.

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