What process involves washing and scrubbing to remove contaminants?

The process that specifically involves washing and scrubbing to remove contaminants is cleaning. Cleaning is the physical removal of dirt, debris, and impurities from surfaces. It uses water, detergents, and mechanical action (such as scrubbing) to effectively eliminate visible soil and organic matter.

Sanitization, disinfection, and sterilization are related but more advanced processes that follow cleaning. Sanitization reduces the number of microorganisms on surfaces to safe levels. Disinfection kills a greater number of pathogens but does not necessarily remove all contaminants. Sterilization, on the other hand, is the complete elimination of all forms of microbial life, which typically involves the use of extreme heat or chemicals.

While sanitization is related to reducing contamination, it does not focus on the physical removal of contaminants through the scrubbing and washing processes that cleaning emphasizes. This distinction makes cleaning the most appropriate term when describing the act of washing and scrubbing surfaces to eliminate impurities.