Colorado Cosmetology Written Practice Exam 2026 - Free Cosmetology Practice Questions and Study Guide

Cleaning is the second level of infection control that kills the most microbes. This is because cleaning involves physically removing dirt, debris, and some germs from surfaces, reducing the number of microbes present. While disinfection and sanitization also kill microbes, they may not be as effective at removing physical debris and thus may not kill as many microbes as cleaning does. Sterilization is the highest level of infection control and involves killing all microbes on a surface, making it less commonly used. Disinfection and sanitization are also less commonly used due to the potentially harmful chemicals involved, which is why cleaning is the most commonly used and effective second level of infection control.