Although disinfecting and sterilizing are two processes that serve to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms, reaching a very similar end, the way of doing them is different. Disinfection destroys bacteria at once without worrying about preventing them from reappearing. On the other hand, sterilization not only provides for the elimination of contaminating agents but also that the number of microorganisms present does not exceed a certain level. It must be taken into account that it is never 100% free of microorganisms since, with the air, any object can come into contact with viruses and bacteria. Both disinfecting and sterilizing require a thorough cleaning beforehand.
Disinfect your home in two steps
Usually clean each area of your home with the usual cleaner. Remember that everyday soap and detergent carry viruses and bacteria; that’s why they will be your greatest allies.
After cleaning, apply a disinfectant product, such as bleach, in a ratio of 1:50 in cold water, without adding detergents (200ml in 10 liters of water).
Valuable tips for disinfecting your home
The mixture must be used the same day it is prepared to be effective.
To avoid contact with your skin, wear gloves.
Never mix bleach with other products, as they can produce dangerous chemical reactions.
To avoid domestic accidents, keep bleach out of the reach of children.
Disinfect my home without bleach: Alcohol and hydrogen peroxide
If you don’t want to use bleach, consider alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Remember to make this decision if you have to clean metals (bleach, in this case, is corrosive!).
If you use 96° alcohol (99% alcohol), remember to dilute it for more effective and safe cleaning. Otherwise, if you use 70% alcohol, you mix seven parts alcohol with three parts water.
Be careful with alcohol! It is highly flammable, so we recommend you not use it near fire or heat sources.
Hydrogen peroxide is effective in the concentration in which it is sold (3%).
Daily cleaning is essential. Remember all the surfaces in your home, especially those with frequent contacts, such as tables, doorknobs, keys, faucets, toilets, etc. Don’t forget to clean the devices you use daily, such as tablets, mobile phones, mice, computers, etc. (cleaning wipes with 70% isopropyl alcohol are recommended for them).
Sterilize your home the easy way
This process allows the killing of bacteria, microorganisms, and viruses radically. Treatment, temperature, and exposure time are the elements that generate this difference. Sterilization also eliminates the spores of most bacteria. According to experts, the chance of finding bacteria after sterilization is one in a million. This process can be considered post-disinfection.
How to sterilize my home
Dry Heat is a process that burns microorganisms by exposing the object to a flame. To be effective, it needs to be at 160°. This process is not recommended for metallic materials.
Moist Heat: the most common procedure is the use of pressurized steam. It is a 100% effective method that increases the temperature record time without leaving toxic residues on the materials. The duration of the process can vary between 4 and 30 minutes, and the steam has to be between 121 and 134 degrees.
Visualization: This process involves heating an object for 30 minutes between 56 and 100 degrees.