Decontaminating, or the process of removing harmful substances or bacteria from a surface, can be achieved through various means. Some synonyms for decontaminating include sanitizing, disinfecting, purifying, cleansing, sterilizing, purging, and deodorizing. Sanitizing refers to the process of reducing the number of bacteria on a surface to safe levels, while disinfecting involves killing most of the bacteria. Purifying and cleansing involve removing impurities and pollutants, while sterilizing and purging involve completely eliminating all microorganisms. Deodorizing refers to removing unpleasant odors from a surface. Each of these synonyms is important in different contexts, such as in healthcare, food preparation, and environmental cleanup, to ensure safety and health.