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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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14y ago

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Related Questions

What is the difference between sanitization, disinfection, and sterilization in terms of their effectiveness in killing microorganisms?

Sanitization reduces the number of microorganisms to a safe level, disinfection kills most microorganisms but not all, and sterilization kills all microorganisms. Sterilization is the most effective in killing microorganisms, followed by disinfection, and then sanitization.


What is the difference between sanitization and sterilization in terms of their effectiveness in eliminating harmful microorganisms?

Sanitization reduces the number of harmful microorganisms to a safe level, while sterilization eliminates all microorganisms, including harmful ones. Sterilization is more effective in completely eliminating harmful microorganisms compared to sanitization.


What are the key differences between sanitization and sterilization in terms of their effectiveness in eliminating harmful microorganisms?

Sanitization reduces the number of harmful microorganisms to a safe level, while sterilization eliminates all microorganisms. Sterilization is more effective in completely eliminating harmful microorganisms compared to sanitization.


What are the differences between sanitization, disinfection, and sterilization in terms of their effectiveness in killing microorganisms?

Sanitization reduces the number of microorganisms to a safe level, disinfection kills most but not all microorganisms, and sterilization kills all microorganisms. Sterilization is the most effective in killing microorganisms, followed by disinfection, and then sanitization.


What are the key differences between sterilization, disinfection, and sanitization in terms of their effectiveness in eliminating harmful microorganisms?

Sterilization completely eliminates all microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Disinfection reduces the number of microorganisms to a safe level, but may not eliminate all of them. Sanitization reduces the number of microorganisms to a level that is considered safe for public health, but does not necessarily eliminate all harmful microorganisms.


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 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 are the two approved methods of sanitization?

heat and chemical


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 diffenation between sterilizatoin and santizatoin?

Sterilization refers to the complete elimination of all microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, from an object or surface. Sanitization, on the other hand, reduces the number of microorganisms to a safe level, as determined by public health standards, to lower the risk of infection.


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.