What You Need To Know

The differences between cleaning and sanitizing and disinfecting, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can be explained as follows:


CLEANING

• Reduces germs, dirt, and impurities by removing them from surfaces or objects. Dirt and organic material make some disinfectants less effective, so cleaning is necessary before disinfecting in most cases.
• Works by using soap or detergent and water to physically remove germs from surfaces. This process does not necessarily kill germs.
• Lowers the risk of spreading infection by washing germs down the drain.
• Removes the food and water that allow germs to survive and reproduce.
• Removes dust, molds, irritants, and allergens that can trigger asthma symptoms. 


SANITIZING

Sanitizing is the use of a chemical product or device that reduces the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a level considered safe by public health standards or requirements. Sanitizing kills most germs but not all of them.
• Sanitizing does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs. Most sanitizers, as well as disinfectants, require a clean surface in order to be effective at killing germs.
Routine sanitization is recommended on all food contact surfaces and on all porous non-porous surfaces as a means to reduce risks of disease spreading. 


DISINFECTING

Disinfecting uses chemicals to kill 99.999% of germs on hard, non-porous surfaces or objects. Disinfecting:
• Does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs;
• Kills germs on contact (when the disinfectant sits visibly wet, or “dwells,” on the surface for a specified length of time) after the surface has been cleaned;
• Only works on hard, nonporous surfaces. Carpets and upholstery and other porous surfaces cannot be sanitized or disinfected with a chemical product;
• Is temporary! As soon as a surface has been touched or coughed, sneezed or breathed on, germs start growing on it again.
Routine disinfecting is only required for surfaces/areas regulated by specific health regulations (such as hospitals, laboratories, etc.), and may be recommended for high touched areas.


AL-TA’AKEEM SANITIZING PROTOCOL

AL-TA’AKEEM is a sanitizing protocol meant to complement routine cleaning and to substitute other types of conventional sanitizing methodologies, providing distinguishing advantages:
• Works on all types of surfaces (porous, non-porous), unlike other products
• Achieves performances far superior than conventional sanitizing products, ensuring removal up to 99.99% of bacterial, viral and fungal contamination after surface treatment;
• Being based on a constantly renewing photocatalytic process, remains effective for several months (effectiveness warranted for 6 or 12 months depending on applications)
• Ensures an additional air purification effect abating VOCs and NOx, PMx
• Renders surfaces self-cleaning against deposits of smog and other organic deposits.
AL-TA’AKEEM sanitizing protocol does not replace mandatory disinfections or post-accident / post-outbreak disinfections as pescribed by the relevant Health Authorities: