{"id":1967,"date":"2019-03-04T18:11:06","date_gmt":"2019-03-05T02:11:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mobiustrimmer.com\/en-ca\/cleaning-vs-sanitizing-whats-the-difference\/"},"modified":"2024-01-26T10:43:57","modified_gmt":"2024-01-26T18:43:57","slug":"cleaning-vs-sanitizing-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mobiustrimmer.com\/en-ca\/cleaning-vs-sanitizing-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Cleaning vs. Sanitizing: What\u2019s The Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For cultivators in the cannabis industry, effective cleaning and sanitizing are crucial to preserving the quality of their products, adhering to regulatory guidelines like GMP, properly maintaining equipment, and minimizing waste. Keeping equipment, grow rooms, and processing spaces clean is the best preventative maintenance action a business in this industry can take to keep operations in peak condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article will cover the main differences between cleaning, sanitizing, and sterilizing your equipment and operation spaces, which will help you protect your products and reputation, and keep you in compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cleaning vs Sanitizing: The Difference<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people use the terms \u201ccleaning\u201d and \u201csanitizing\u201d interchangeably. However, it\u2019s necessary to understand the key differences between the two processes in a space like the cannabis industry. Failure to do so could mean you harm the quality of your products, and risk non-compliance with industry standards, like GMP<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Cleaning?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Cleaning is about removing the visible dirt, grime, and debris you can see. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On an automated cannabis trimming machine, it would mean removing the mess\u2014leftover plant matter, leaves, and any cannabis resin\u2014that has built up on the unit throughout a trim session. A clean machine may look ready for a new batch, but \u201ccleaning\u201d only means there\u2019s no visible plant matter or resin left behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reality is that unseen germs and components could still remain on the surface of your machinery, waiting to contaminate your product. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proper cleaning is typically the first step in truly maintaining your equipment and spaces. It\u2019s the stage where you remove any organics, dirt, greases, oils, or resin from your equipment, and eliminate some forms of harmful bacteria. Cleaning a dirty surface before sanitizing is necessary, because impurities like resin may make it harder for chemicals to reach hidden germs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Sanitizing?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sanitizing is a process that reduces the number of bacteria to a safe level<\/em>, similar yet distinct from disinfecting. While disinfecting aims to kill a wider spectrum of microorganisms, sanitizing focuses on reducing bacteria specifically. Both processes go beyond the basics of your standard cleaning product. Sanitizing processes can use various substances, but in the cannabis industry, most cultivators rely on chemical disinfectants, such as isopropyl alcohol. <\/p>\n\n\n

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To understand the difference between cleaning and sanitizing, imagine a dirty stovetop. Using a disinfectant wipe on the stovetop for 20 seconds targets a broad range of microbes, effectively disinfecting the surface. This will likely kill most of the bacteria and viruses sitting right on top, but the layer beneath will remain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you first scrub the stovetop with a cleaner or degreaser, you\u2019ll remove all surface-level soils. Then, wiping it down with a sanitizer will eliminate any remaining germs. This is the process we recommend for cleaning your Mobius equipment<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start by using a food-safe cleaner<\/a> to remove all the resin and plant matter. Spray, rinse, or wipe with water to remove the solution. Then, you\u2019ll do a sanitizing and disinfecting step that will target germs such as bacteria and viruses. A quick ATP test<\/a> to confirm you\u2019ve done the job successfully, and you can get your equipment back into operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Sterilization?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sterilization is another process in the commercial cleaning world, that often follows cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting your equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While disinfecting removes most germs and viruses, sterilization removes all microorganisms from a surface or machine, including those that aren\u2019t necessarily harmful. To sterilize, companies use things like pressurized steam, hydrogen peroxide gas, and infrared radiation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sterilization may not be necessary every time you use your equipment, but it can help elevate the cleanliness of some of your machines and hard surfaces to a higher standard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Talk to a GMP expert about your cleaning protocol today. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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CONTACT MOBIUS<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Cleaning and Sanitizing in Cannabis Processing: The Grow Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing within a cannabis business requires careful consideration of all the aspects of your operational environment. This may start with your cannabis grow room. Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting your cannabis grow room is important for preserving plant health, and reducing the risk of pests, diseases, and microbial contamination. This helps to promote optimal growing conditions for robust yields. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good cleaning and disinfecting strategy also helps to preserve the consistency of your products, ensuring contaminants don\u2019t impact the chemical composition and potency of your plants. Plus, it helps to boost your chances of adhering to regulatory standards, like GMP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To properly maintain your grow rooms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n