This question comes up quite often.

Most people want to know what the difference is and which one do they look for on a label. Here are very basic and easy to understand definitions for them both.

Antimicrobial - A general term for any substance or product that inhibits the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoa.

Antibacterial - A chemical substance or product that either kills or inhibits infectious bacteria.

It is also helpful to define the various "cleaning" product categories available also, as defined by the EPA.

Sterilizers are primarily used for destroying all forms of microbial life including fungi, viruses, and all forms of bacteria and their spores. Liquid steriliants are used in medical settings on selected delicate medical and surgical instruments and equipment which cannot tolerate high temperature sterilization and where low temperature gas sterilization is not feasible.

Disinfectants are used on inanimate surfaces and objects to destroy infectious fungi, viruses, and bacteria but not necessarily all spores. Disinfectants are divided into two major categories: hospital disinfectants and general use disinfectants.

Sanitizers are used to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, microorganisms from the inanimate environment to levels considered safe as determined by public health codes or regulations. Sanitizers include food contact and non-food contact products. Sanitizing rinses are used for surfaces such as dishes and cooking utensils, equipment and utensils used in food-processing plants, and food service establishments.

You may draw your own conclusions from these definitions, but if you'd like our recommendation, go ANTIMICROBIAL and STERILIZERS whenever possible.