What is the difference between 'cleaning' and 'sanitizing' on porous vs nonporous surfaces?

• A. Cleaning on porous surfaces may not fully sanitize; sanitizing is for nonporous surfaces; porous surfaces might require more thorough cleaning and replacement.
• B. Sanitizing is always the same as cleaning.
• C. Porous surfaces are easier to sanitize than nonporous.
• D. All surfaces can be sanitized equally.

Answer: (A)

Cleaning removes visible dirt and debris, while sanitizing reduces microbes to a safe level. Nonporous surfaces are smooth, so after thorough cleaning a sanitizer can effectively contact and reduce microbes. Porous surfaces have tiny pores and fibers that trap soil and microbes, which makes it hard for sanitizers to reach all areas; as a result, microbes can remain even after cleaning. Because of this, porous materials often can’t be reliably sanitized and may need replacement, whereas nonporous surfaces respond well to cleaning followed by sanitizing. The other statements misstate the relationship between cleaning and sanitizing or overgeneralize their effectiveness across all surface types.