Before we understand the how, let’s get a lay of the land. What do these terms mean and why can we not use them interchangeably?

• Sanitization (cleaning) – This is a process of washing, cleaning or removing dirt, and eliminates dust, debris, and germs on the surface.
• Disinfection – This is a method of destroying pathogenic microorganisms and removing most organisms present on the surface, so that they cannot pass on infections. For example, we disinfect areas where we change a child’s diaper.
• Sterilization – This involves handling and killing all microbial and forms of bacteria, fungi, and viruses present on an object’s surface.