Cleaning and Disinfection
Cleaning and disinfection are two separate functions which are often confused.
Cleaning is the removal of the soiling, it may make the surface appear “clean” but it is seldom designed to remove the surface biofilms or destroy pathogens. Cleaning must be combined with or followed by a thorough disinfection. Detergents may remove soiling but will seldom destroy the pathogens. Bacteria suspended in the dirty water are often simply moved from one spot to another where it is left to repopulate and form new biofilm attachments.
Disinfection is the destruction of pathogens, bacteria, spores, virus, protozoa and fungi. Many of these organisms will live within the soiling and under the biofilm which will be attached to the hard surfaces. For disinfection to be successful it should follow a thorough cleaning.
Different forms of soiling requires different detergents – breaking down and loosing fats and greases from different sources will often require different products. Cleaning out milk and brewery pipe lines requires detergent formulations which are different from those used in laundries.
As not all detergents have similar properties so not all disinfectants are identical. Disinfectants function in different ways. Disinfectants which are effective against certain bacteria may not be effective against other bacteria or other forms of pathogens.
Designing cleaning and disinfection programmes requires the formulation of products which tackle all of the problems and not just a limited selection.