Question

What is the difference between sanitation and degermination? Be specific.

Answer 1

Sanitation~

Sanitation refers to the removal of waste products and unclean water from populated areas, as defined by the University of Cambridge's online dictionary. But Webster's Online Dictionary gives the word a more expansive definition of "the state of being clean and conducive to health." Meaning any type of disinfecting and cleaning that happens for the public good can be labeled as sanitation.

Disinfecting~

Disinfecting reduces the number of microorganisms in an area, but does not kill them all. Household cleaning products are good examples of disinfectants that clean an area, but are not intended to sterilize it. However, disinfectants used in the medical field are manufactured with harsher chemicals that kill more microorganisms than a household cleaning product, and some of these products are able to sterilize medical equipment.