Clean vs. Sanitize vs. Disinfect

Clean, sanitize and disinfect. These are words commonly used and often interchanged, but each is a very different step of the food safety process. This interchanging of terminology can be confusing, and can result in ineffective practices and the spread of foodborne disease. So what is the difference?

Cleaning is the process of removing dirt, germs and other material from surfaces by washing them down the drain. This is done with water, a cleaning product like soap or detergent and scrubbing. Cle...