Cleaning vs. Sanitizing vs. Disinfecting: The 'Dwell Time' Secret You Need to Know

Since 2020, we’ve all become hyper-aware of germs, leading to a massive increase in the use of household disinfectants. But here is a shocking industry secret: most people are disinfecting completely wrong. If you are spraying a disinfectant on your kitchen counter and immediately wiping it dry with a paper towel, you are wasting your product and leaving the bacteria behind. To truly protect your home during flu season, you need to understand the fundamental difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting—and the critical concept of "Dwell Time."

Decoding the Terminology

• Cleaning: Removing visible dirt, crumbs, and grease from a surface using soap and water. Cleaning does not kill germs; it just washes them away.

• Sanitizing: Lowering the number of bacteria on a surface to a safe level (usually a 99.9% reduction).

• Disinfecting: Using chemicals to completely destroy and kill microscopic organisms, including tough viruses (like the flu or COVID-19) and bacteria.

The Two-Step Process You cannot disinfect a dirty surface. If there is grease or food residue on your counter, the disinfectant cannot reach the bacteria hiding underneath it.

• Step 1: Wipe away the visible grime with a standard multi-surface cleaner.

• Step 2: Apply your disinfectant.

The Secret of "Dwell Time" (Contact Time) Disinfectants do not work instantly. They require a specific amount of time to sit visibly wet on a surface to break down the cell walls of the viruses and bacteria. This is called "dwell time" or "contact time."

• Depending on the product, this wait time can be anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes.

• The Fix: Read the back of your disinfectant bottle! Spray the surface until it is glistening wet, set a timer, and walk away. Once the time is up, you can wipe away the residue.