The Joy of Cleaning: Making Surfaces Sparkle!

What is the process of removing food and soil from surfaces known as?

a. Sanitization

b. Disinfection

c. Cleaning

d. Sterilization

Answer:

The process of removing food and soil from surfaces to make them cleaner is known as (c) cleaning, which is different from sanitization, disinfection, and sterilization that involve varying levels of microbe reduction and removal. Hence, option (c) is correct.

Explanation: The process of removing food and other types of soil from surfaces such as dishes, glass, or cutting boards is known as cleaning. This involves reducing the microbial load on items to make them 'cleaner,' though not necessarily sterile. Sanitization refers to reducing microbes to safe levels, often using high temperatures or chemicals, as seen in commercial dishwashers. Disinfection, on the other hand, inactivates most microbes on surfaces using antimicrobial chemicals or heat but does not guarantee complete sterility. The most intensive method, sterilization, aims to remove or kill all microbial life, including vegetative cells, endospores, and viruses, and is essential in medical and laboratory settings.