Killing COVID: Disinfecting vs. Sanitizing

Even though we have widespread vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, it’s still important to practice good safety precautions. Luckily, the World Health Organization has assured the world that most household disinfectants can kill the virus. When purchasing your residential or commercial cleaning solutions, make sure to keep an eye out for products that use the following COVID-19-killing compounds:

  • surface virucidals
  • ethanol (at least 70%)
  • sodium hypochlorite (usually in 0.05% concentrations)

Why You Need Disinfectants and Not Just Sanitizers

In the cleaning world, terms often have specific meanings. That’s true of products and solutions that might be marketed toward people concerned about COVID-19 as well. Typically, the difference between disinfecting a surface and sanitizing it concerns how the product affects the bacteria or virus it targets.

Sanitization is a process that greatly reduces the amount of the virus or bacteria in question. However, a sanitized surface may still contain some of that targeted microbe. When dealing with viruses, you don’t want to just reduce the amount on the surface. However, sanitization has its role. When coupled with disinfectants, sanitizing chemicals can help rid your surfaces of the underlying cause of sickness.

Disinfectants work differently. Instead of removing as much of the microbe as possible, disinfectants actively kill or alter the bacteria/virus so that it can no longer infect humans. Disinfectants are often used to protect against the spread of viruses for this reason, as they seek to destroy the virus at its source.

Products You Can Find for COVID-19

At Sani-Chem, we have an easy-to-use online store with plenty of items for use in the battle against coronavirus. We also sell personal protective equipment (PPE). While PPE does not directly kill or disinfect COVID-19, items like masks and gloves help to reduce the spread of the illness.

Lysol Advanced Deep Clean

The Lysol Advanced Deep Clean is an all-purpose cleaner that can be used for virtually any surface. It eliminates a staggering 99.9% of viruses and bacteria when used according to instructions, and has been shown to be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As such, it serves as an excellent example of the wide range of disinfectants Sani-Chem has for sale.

Contact the expert team at Sani-Chem to get more information about sprays, disinfectants, sanitizers, and other equipment you can use to combat COVID-19. We offer consultations so that we can help you find the right product for your specific needs.