EDITOR’ S CHOICE
Clean, Sanitise, Disinfect: Why Hospitality Needs to Know the Difference
- SANI PROFESSIONAL-
In the fast-paced world of hospitality, cleanliness isn’ t just about making things look good. It’ s a critical part of protecting guest health, maintaining brand reputation, and meeting regulatory standards. But not all cleaning is created equal. Understanding the difference between cleaning, sanitising, and disinfecting is essential, and overlooking these distinctions can have serious consequences.
Cleaning refers to the physical removal of dirt, dust, crumbs, and germs from surfaces. It doesn’ t kill bacteria or viruses but reduces their numbers by washing them away. It’ s the first step and should never be skipped— trying to disinfect a dirty surface is like painting over rust.
Sanitising lowers the number of bacteria to safe levels as determined by public health standards. It’ s commonly used on food-contact surfaces like countertops, kitchen utensils, and dining tables. However, sanitisers may not eliminate all viruses or more resilient pathogens. Always check the label.
Some sanitisers can be used in a two-stage approach: 1) Use the sanitiser to clean the surface. 2) Reapply to the visibly clean surface and leave for the required time. This final step sanitises.
Disinfecting goes further: it destroys bacteria and inactivates viruses and fungi. This process is vital in high-touch areas such as door handles, bathroom surfaces, and hotel remotes, where crosscontamination risks are higher. Disinfectants typically require a specific contact time to be effective, which is another crucial detail staff must understand.
So why does this distinction matter? Because using the wrong product, or using it incorrectly, can create a false sense of security. In hospitality, where the margin for error is small, that misunderstanding could lead to illness outbreaks, negative reviews, or even legal action.
Training teams to know when to clean, sanitise, or disinfect— and equipping them with the right products— isn’ t just smart practice. It’ s a professional standard that puts guest safety and brand integrity first.
After all, in hospitality, it’ s not just about being clean. It’ s about being correctly clean.
Sani Professional’ s Protect 360 ° biodegradable sanitising wipes are effective against norovirus and tested under dirty conditions, meaning one wipe can clean and sanitise simultaneously, saving staff valuable time.
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