Short answer
CDC defines cleaning as removing germs and dirt from surfaces, sanitizing as lowering germs to safer levels, and disinfecting as using chemicals to kill germs. Products that claim to kill germs must be registered with the EPA. Sleep Sanitation cleans and sanitizes mattresses. We don't make disinfection or infection-prevention claims, and care teams should be wary of vendors who do without registered products and label directions.
Key terms used on this page
- Cleaning vs sanitizing:
- The CDC treats cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting as different steps. Urine and odor treatment is cleaning. Hub 2's sanitize definition explains how we use that word, and we make no disinfection claim.
- Pesticidal claim:
- A product claim to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate a pest, including microbes. EPA says such claims make a cleaning product a pesticide that must be registered.
When a care team vets a mattress vendor, the words matter. "Disinfect" is a regulated claim. Many cleaning companies use it loosely.
General information for home care and hospice teams, not medical, legal or infection-control advice. Follow your agency's policies.
The three words
CDC's definitions: cleaning removes germs and dirt from surfaces; sanitizing lowers the number of germs to a safer level; disinfecting uses chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. Our cleaning vs sanitizing glossary entry has more.
Why germ-kill claims are regulated
The EPA says a product claiming to kill or repel microbes makes a pesticidal claim and must be registered. Our article are enzyme cleaners disinfectants? explains why enzymes aren't.
What to ask a vendor
- What products do you use, and do any make germ-kill claims?
- If so, what's the EPA registration number, and do you follow the label's dwell time?
- What do you document after each visit?
What we claim
We clean and sanitize with dry vapor steam, HEPA vacuuming and UV-C light treatment, plus enzyme treatment on urine and biological jobs. We don't disinfect and make no infection-prevention claims. Our documentation is a moisture check and a bed mite sensor reading; see the service summary.
Sleep Sanitation's view
This section is our view. Agencies that group visits with us for route efficiency can ask about agency rates. We carry a certificate of insurance, available on request, and run background checks under our hiring policy, including a national sex offender registry check. Sleep Sanitation serves Omaha, Lincoln and surrounding towns. Every visit includes dry vapor steam, HEPA vacuuming, UV-C light treatment, the built-in bed mite sensor on our JIGOO UV-C mattress vacuum and a moisture check before we leave. Enzyme treatment is used on urine and other biological jobs, and ordinary accident treatment is included in the $249 first-mattress price. Severe or biohazard contamination carries a surcharge, and we tell you before any work starts. Call or text (402) 512-5658, or email info@sleepsanitation.com.
Changelog
- 14 October 2026: First published. Sources accessed on this date.
Sources
- Cleaning and disinfecting your school (definitions) · CDC
- Determining If a Cleaning Product Is a Pesticide Under FIFRA · US Environmental Protection Agency
Last reviewed October 14, 2026. Manufacturer specifications and care instructions change; check the current version for your exact model. This page is general information, not medical advice. How we source and check pages: editorial standards.