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Sanitizing is the process of killing and/or removing bacteria and microbes with chemicals. The effectiveness of sanitizing is determined by the chemical(s) used.

For example: Plain water is an effective neutral sanitizer for removing most microbes from surfaces. However, it is not effective for killing most bacteria or microbes. Alcohol is effective for killing and removing most bacteria and microbes.

Sterilization is the process of killing bacteria and microbes with heat. The effectiveness of sterilization is determined by the level of heat used.

Example: 160°F will kill most all bacteria and microbes that are known to be harmful to human life. However, there are microbes that may withstand temperatures up to 867.2°F. This means that it is impractical to achieve 100% sterilization.

Common Misconceptions

  1. Sanitizing and sterilization are the same. That notion is incorrect. Sanitizing is chemical and sterilization is thermal.
  2. That either process is more or less effective than the other. That notion is incorrect. The effectiveness of sanitizing is determined by the chemical(s) used. And the effectiveness of sterilization is determined by the temperature.
  3. That 100% sanitation and/or sterilization is practical. That notion is incorrect. There is no process that is capable of killing all life on a treated material, leaving the material undamaged and leaving the material safe to use. As someone once said... "If you can find a substance that is resistant to everything you'll find a form of life that wants to eat it or live in it."
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Q: What is the difference between sanitization and sterilization?
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Related questions

What is the difference between sterilization and disinfection?

If refering to being clean, sterilization is preventing infection and disinfection is removing an existing contamination.


What is the difference between sterilization and canning?

The canning process is to preserve the food in the can. Sterilization is the process of killing bacteria that is normally heat resistant.


What is the difference between sterilization and commercial sterilization?

The difference is that commercial sterilization takes place in irradiation chambers and regular sterilization does not. A irradiation chamber can hold up to 50 tons and is sealed up before the high energy x-rays kills off anything living.


Difference between sterilization and disinfection?

disinfectant gets most of the viruses and bacteria off of something, while complete sterilization is there is absolutely NOTHING on that object. period. it is generally for surgical use that people sterilize rather than disinfect!


What is the difference between sterilize and disinfect?

Disinfection and sterilization are both decontamination processes. Disinfection is the process of eliminating or reducing harmful microorganisms from inanimate objects and surfaces. Sterilization is the process of killing all microorganisms.


What is the difference between castration and sterilization?

Castration is the removal of the testicles from a male animal or person, which is a form of sterilization because sperm can no longer be produced. Sterilization of a male can be accomplished without castration, for example by vasectomy, which is cutting and cauterizing the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the seminal vesicles.


What is the difference between handwashing and hand sanitization in maintaining hand hygiene?

The difference between handwashing and hand sanitazation is that hand washing is youre washing youre hand with water and soap and hand sanitazation is using hand sanitazer or using those sanizatized wipies


What is cleaning of a wound?

cleaning a wound - under medical/surgical asepsis techniques with sanitization, disinfection, and/or sterilization. If open wound, it would then have to be debrideded so that new blood capilliaries are reach and new tissue would be allowed to form.


How do you sanitization?

with an autoclave.


What is the difference between pasteurization and sterilization?

The pasteurization is carried out for a prolonged time at around 170°F and is supposed to kill only heat susceptible organisms and their spores, while sterilization works at a temperature of 250°F and is supposed to kill all organisms.


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There are almost 600 sanitization and germs FAQ on WikiAnswers.


Who are the top home sanitization service providers in Mumbai?

Tahaan Pest Solutions provides the best home and office sanitization services in Mumbai. Sanitization is a highly professional task that requires knowledge, experience, and expertise because of this we provide experts with various sanitization services including home sanitization services in Mumbai, where we try to sanitize at the touchpoints of the home.