Pests & FacilitiesQuestion 132 of 240
What is the difference between cleaning and sanitizing?
a.Cleaning removes visible dirt and food; sanitizing then reduces pathogens to safe levels
b.Cleaning kills germs; sanitizing removes dirt
c.Sanitizing is done first, then cleaning
d.They are the same thing
Explanation
Cleaning removes visible soil, grease, and food debris with detergent, while sanitizing uses heat or chemicals to reduce pathogens on an already-clean surface to safe levels. A surface must be cleaned first, because sanitizer cannot work through dirt and grease. Both steps are needed to make food-contact surfaces safe.
Practice all 240 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- In a three-compartment sink, what is the correct order for manually washing dishes?
- What is the correct concentration range for a chlorine (bleach) sanitizing solution?
- How should the concentration of a chlorine sanitizer solution be verified?
- In a high-temperature dish machine, the final sanitizing rinse must reach a minimum temperature of about:
- How often must food-contact surfaces used with TCS food be cleaned and sanitized during continuous use?
- A self-service salad bar is set up in the dining room. What equipment is required to protect the food from customer contamination?
Last reviewed: · editorial process
Sen Lin, PrepPass Founder · Verified against NYC Food Protection Certificate Exam · How we review