What Is Clean in the Era of Covid-19?

Cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing play an important role in reducing the spread of coronavirus in public areas. According to the CDC, COVID-19 can stay on some surfaces for hours or even days.¹ Regular cleaning is required to limit the transmission of the disease in commercial and public spaces.

Cleaning dislodges and removes dirt and microbes from surfaces. While cleaning does not always kill germs, it reduces the spread of infection by reducing the bacteria levels on surfaces.²

Disinfecting involves the use of chemicals to kill germs and bacteria. While this does not always remove the germs, it reduces the spread of infection by killing germs on surfaces after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.³

Sanitizing reduces the number of germs on a surface, through the use of either cleaning or disinfecting. By reducing the amount of bacteria to a safe level, sanitizing plays an essential role in limiting the spread of infection.⁴