Final answer:
Sterilization is the method that completely kills all types of microorganisms on an object, including bacteria, viruses, and endospores, making it more thorough than disinfection, sanitization, or cleaning which do not guarantee complete removal of all microbes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cleaning method that kills all microorganisms on the surface of an object is sterilization. Sterilization achieves the complete removal or killing of all vegetative cells, endospores, and viruses from an item or environment and can be accomplished through physical means such as high heat and pressure or chemical means using sterilants. In contrast, disinfection inactivates most microbes on the surface of a fomite but isn't as thorough as sterilization and typically doesn't kill endospores. The term sanitization refers to cleaning to levels deemed safe for public health but also doesn't ensure complete elimination of all microbes. Antiseptics are suitable for use on living tissues to prevent infection, while disinfectants and sterilants are generally reserved for nonliving surfaces.