Sanitizer or Disinfectant: What's the Difference?

After the pandemic, attention to cleanliness and hygiene has increased, at home and outside. On supermarket shelves, online and in specialized shops it is increasingly common to come across labels that refer to "sanitizing" and "disinfecting" products. Although they may seem synonymous, there are substantial differences between these two terms and it is good to know them, in order to be able to make an informed choice about what is best suited to your needs.

Is it better to sanitize or disinfect?

In the context of cleaning and hygiene, the terms "sanitizer" and "disinfectant" are often used as if they were interchangeable, but in reality they indicate two categories of products with distinct characteristics and purposes. Understanding the difference between sanitizers and disinfectants is essential to choosing the most suitable product depending on your needs.

A sanitizer is a product that reduces the number of bacteria on a surface to a level considered safe by public health. It does not necessarily eliminate 100% of the bacteria, but it significantly reduces their presence, thus limiting the risk of infection. Sanitizers are ideal for frequently touched surfaces , such as doorknobs, tables, and gym equipment, where the goal is to maintain a clean but not necessarily sterile environment.

Disinfectants , on the other hand, are formulated to kill or inactivate disease-causing microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. They are more potent than sanitizers and are used in environments that require a high level of hygiene, such as hospitals, medical clinics, and laboratories . Disinfectants can be applied to non-porous surfaces and are essential for preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

The choice between using a sanitizer or a disinfectant therefore depends on the environment to be treated and the specific cleaning objectives. For domestic environments or public spaces where the risk of contamination is moderate, sanitizers may be sufficient to maintain a good level of hygiene. In healthcare settings or in the presence of an infectious outbreak, the use of disinfectants becomes crucial to effectively eliminate harmful pathogens.

Both products, therefore, contribute to the creation of safer environments by reducing the presence of harmful microorganisms, but:

• sanitizers focus on reducing the number of bacteria to levels safe for public health;
• Disinfectants aim to completely eliminate pathogenic germs from treated surfaces.

Making a conscious choice between these two types of products is therefore essential to ensure the safety and well-being of people in the environments in which they live and work.

Are cleaning, sanitization and sterilization the same thing?

Then there are other terms that are often used as synonyms or in combination with the words "sanitization" and "disinfection". These are cleaning, sanitization and sterilization . Although these terms may all seem very similar if not identical - in terms of meaning - to those who are not in the sector, each of them indicates a specific level of treatment applied to objects or surfaces, to reduce or eliminate the risk of spreading pathogens.

• Cleaning is the most basic process and is designed to remove visible dirt , dust, and debris. Through the use of water, detergents, and physical action (such as scrubbing), cleaning removes organic substances that can promote the growth of microorganisms, thereby reducing their numbers. However, cleaning alone does not kill germs.
• Sanitization goes a step further: in addition to cleaning, it aims to significantly reduce the presence of bacteria on surfaces and objects to levels considered safe by public health standards. This process does not necessarily eliminate all microorganisms, but it reduces their number to a level that is not dangerous to health. We can therefore say, based on what we explained before, that sanitizers and disinfectants are somewhat synonymous.
• Finally, sterilization represents the highest level of decontamination. This process eliminates all living microorganisms , including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and bacterial spores, and is commonly used in medical and surgical settings for instruments that come into contact with sterile areas of the human body.

Do I need a sanitizing detergent to clean my house?

When you read on the product label that what you have in your hand is a "sanitizing detergent", what does it mean?

A sanitizing detergent is a product that combines the cleaning properties of a traditional detergent with the ability to break down and significantly reduce the presence of harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, on surfaces or fabrics. This type of detergent not only eliminates visible dirt, but also acts at a microbiological level to keep the environment healthier and safer.

But is it better to use a sanitizing detergent or a pure disinfectant?

The difference lies mainly in the purpose for which the product is to be used. While the disinfectant is designed exclusively to kill germs and is used after conventional cleaning, to ensure a deep antimicrobial action, the sanitizing detergent performs a dual function: it cleans and simultaneously reduces the microbial load, without necessarily reaching the levels of germ extermination typical of disinfectants.

The use of a sanitizing detergent is therefore particularly suitable in domestic environments, offices, schools and workplaces where it is essential to maintain high standards of hygiene but where the frequent use of disinfectants may be impractical or unnecessary.

However, it is important to read the labels carefully and follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure that the product is suitable for your specific cleaning and hygiene needs.

And if I want to disinfect, what should I use?

In the fight against germs and bacteria inside your home, it is essential to make a distinction between sanitizing and disinfecting products, in order to choose the most appropriate solution to ensure a safe and healthy home environment.

Resuming what was explained at the beginning of this article, we can say that:

• Sanitizer is a product (spray, liquid, gel, or nebulizer) that helps reduce the number of germs on surfaces and objects to levels considered safe (from a public health perspective), without necessarily eliminating them all. Sanitizers are therefore ideal for daily cleaning of frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles, countertops, cooking utensils, and living spaces.
• Disinfectant , on the other hand, is formulated to kill or inactivate germs and viruses on surfaces, offering a higher level of protection than sanitizers. Disinfectant sprays and cleaners are especially recommended in situations where there is a high risk of transmitting infectious diseases, such as after a family member becomes ill or during a pandemic. To effectively disinfect your home, it is important to follow the instructions on the label of the product you choose, ensuring that the surface remains wet for the time necessary for the disinfectant to work properly.

Caution: Disinfecting is not ALWAYS the best solution. Frequent and unnecessary use of overly powerful disinfectants can lead to the development of resistance in microorganisms, as well as potential adverse effects on human health due to exposure to the harsh chemicals contained in many of the household disinfectants on the market.

Therefore, the most balanced approach is to use sanitizers for regular home cleaning and reserve disinfectants for situations that require deeper sanitization.

Or, better yet, prefer natural products, which are simultaneously sanitizing and disinfecting but safe for humans and the environment, such as hypochlorous acid.

Hypochlorous acid: sanitizer and disinfectant in one product

Hypochlorous acid is a natural molecule produced by our body to fight infections.

As soon as the presence of pathogens (for example a virus or a bacterium) is detected, neutrophils - particular white blood cells present in the immune system - activate a series of processes to "neutralize the enemy" and, among the substances deployed, hypochlorous acid is the most powerful.

This substance, in fact, is characterized by strong antimicrobial properties and is able to inactivate and destroy viruses like the best disinfectant.

The problem, however, is that it is produced by the human body only when needed, so how can it be used to disinfect and sanitize surfaces?

We at Ecasan have managed to recreate it in the laboratory, with a patented green formula that involves the electrolytic activation of a natural compound of pure water and salt, therefore 100% natural.

In simple terms, we create a saline aqueous solution by mixing together water and sodium chloride and then pass an electric current through the solution using a device called an electrolytic cell. When the current passes through the solution, the salt splits into its two components: chlorine ions and sodium ions. The former migrate to the negative electrode (cathode) where they react with water and thus give rise to hypochlorous acid. The chemical formula of this molecule, in fact, is HOCl, that is, hydrogen, oxygen and chlorine.

This process has allowed us to recreate hypochlorous acid outside the human body, maintaining its sanitizing and bactericidal properties unchanged. And this is why today we use HOCl to produce broad-spectrum sanitizing solutions, extremely effective and completely non-toxic, sustainable and safe, capable of guaranteeing hygiene and care for people and animals, in full respect of the environment.

Ecasan products based on hypochlorous acid therefore contain all the properties and advantages of a disinfectant: they kill viruses, bacteria, fungi and spores by destroying the cell walls of microbes or altering their vital internal mechanisms, thus rendering them inactive. At the same time, they act quickly, so they are perfect for thoroughly sanitizing in a short time.

Furthermore, unlike other disinfectants that can be toxic or harmful to the skin and mucous membranes, hypochlorous acid is safe for both humans and animals . In fact, we also use it for our PET line .

And then it's really versatile.

It can be used to sanitize environments, objects (even children's) and surfaces of any type, even in the kitchen - both domestic and industrial - and helps prevent cross-contamination and ensure maximum food safety.
And we also use it to create products dedicated to personal care, such as face and body sanitizers and hand disinfectants.