Maybe you are in need of local biohazard cleanup services but can’t seem to figure out what they would be doing for you. Of course, you know what cleaning, disinfection and sterilization basically mean, but do you have a good understanding of how they differ from one another? Then learn.
Cleaning Defined
This is probably the most basic of the three terms listed above. It is conducted when there is a need to remove accumulated and unneeded foreign materials from an area, object or an item. However basic it is, the cleaning process is pivotal in making sure that your area, property or item doesn’t become infested with disease-carrying pathogens.
Cleaning takes care of visible materials such as dirt, blood, dust, food, bodily fluids and so on. The cleaning process entails the use of materials such as
- Towels
- Vacuum cleaners
- Fluid
- Mops etc.
Depending on the sort of foreign material you are trying to clean up, there are various cleaning agents that can be used. The cleaning process is very important, as it must be carried out before disinfection and sterilization procedures. Thus, whenever you seek local biohazard cleanup services, they would always start by cleaning first.
Disinfection Defined
While cleaning takes care of eliminating unwanted visible materials, disinfection, on the other hand, handles the elimination of micro-organisms or disease-causing pathogens from surfaces, objects or areas. The disinfection process employs the use of disinfectants or antimicrobial agents that are available in different varieties on the market today.
When cleaning an area that is likely infested with disease-causing pathogens, you are probably exposed to pathogens such as staphylococcus, Hepatitis B and C, Fungi and others. A common choice for dealing with these pathogens is chlorine bleach. This 5% solution of sodium hypochlorite has been found effective in destroying a large variety of these dangerous pathogens.
Sterilization Defined
Even after cleaning and disinfecting a place contaminated with dangerous pathogens, the place wouldn’t still be 100% free of these pathogens until sterilization is carried out.
Sterilization is basically the process of destroying these pathogens. These pathogens include everything from viruses, bacteria, fungi to spores.
Depending on the sort of contamination present in an area, there are a number of methods through which sterilization is carried out. Amongst these are
- Irradiation
- Filtration
- High pressure
- Chemicals
The Biohazard Remediation Process
When tragedy hits and you are left to deal with cleaning up a blood scene or some other sort of biohazard scene, it is best you seek out local biohazard cleanup services. Dealing with biohazards such as blood, bodily fluids and body tissues isn’t a task for the inexperienced.
These professionals break down the remediation process in three parts;
The first part is cleaning as has been explained above. Next is the process of disinfecting and sanitizing the area via the use of specialized tools and chemical products.
After the first two steps mentioned above, when the threat of dangerous pathogens has been mitigated, then the deodorization process begins. This entails the use of specialized chemicals in completely eliminating the offensive odor that would be present on the crime scene as the result of blood, bodily fluids and other biohazards that have previously contaminated the area.
