The best disinfectants for viruses and which ingredients to look for (2024)

FAQs

What is the most effective disinfectant? ›

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats)

Quats are a top choice for disinfection in hospital and institutional settings because of their low cost and quick action against a wide range of microorganisms. Quats can be formulated with a variety of detergents to provide both cleaning and disinfecting ability.

Hydrogen peroxide is active against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses, and spores ^{78, 654}.

Bleach is a strong and effective disinfectant – its active ingredient sodium hypochlorite is effective in killing bacteria, fungi and viruses, including influenza virus – but it is easily inactivated by organic material.

Bleach is one of the best household cleaners to use with any virus. Most households already have this extremely common item. When cleaning, mix half a cup of bleach with a gallon of hot water. Wipe down surfaces like tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets and sinks.

High-Level Disinfection

This procedure kills vegetative microorganisms and inactivates viruses, but not necessarily high numbers of bacterial spores. Such disinfectants are capable of sterilization when the contact time is relatively long (e.g., 6 to 10 hours).

Disinfection destroys most pathogenic and other microorganisms by physical or chemical means. In contrast, sterilization destroys all microorganisms, including substantial numbers of resistant bacterial spores, by heat (steam autoclave, dry heat, and unsaturated chemical vapor) or liquid chemical sterilants.

Bactericide: Agent that kills bacteria.

Household bleach (chlorine as sodium hypochlorite) is active against most microorganisms, including bacterial spores and can be used as a disinfectant or sanitizer, depending on its concentration.

What are the chemical agents used to destroy most bacteria and some viruses and to disinfect implements and surfaces? ›

Virucide, fungicide, bactericide, sporicide, and tuberculocide can kill the type of microorganism identified by the prefix. For example, a bactericide is an agent that kills bacteria.

Chlorine eliminates both Page 3 enveloped and nonenveloped viruses. Chlorine also is effec- tive against fungi, bacteria, and algae. Chlorine is not effective against spores. Household bleach (5.25 percent NaClO ), a common source, is cheap and readily available.

Disinfectants and antiseptics are many active chemical compounds called biocides, which can fight microorganisms on nonliving surfaces and human skin. [1] These biocides, such as alcohol, iodine, and chlorine, have been used for years.

Chlorine- and iodine-based compounds are the most significant microbicidal halogens used in the clinic and have been traditionally used for both antiseptic and disinfectant purposes.

Hypochlorite. Hypochlorites are the most commonly used chlorine disinfectants. Sodium Hypochlorite is commercially available as household bleach. This EPA-registered chemical is stable and fast acting.

Hydrogen peroxide is another antiseptic, or disinfectant, that kills viruses and various forms of bacteria. But it needs more time than rubbing alcohol does to kill germs. It needs up to 5 minutes to do its job.

Like Clorox, Lysol products are also recognized by the EPA for being able to kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses, including salmonella and COVID-19. Lysol's antibacterial cleaner is catered to kitchen messes and surfaces, thoroughly penetrating grime, grease, and dirt to leave nothing but a clean shine.

What is a safer alternative to hydrogen peroxide? ›

But when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting, there is one hydrogen peroxide substitute that wins, and that is hypochlorous acid.

Hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic used on the skin to prevent infection of minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. It may also be used as a mouth rinse to help remove mucus or to relieve minor mouth irritation (such as due to canker/cold sores, gingivitis).

Hydrogen peroxide can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, skin, and throat. Workers may be harmed from exposure to hydrogen peroxide. The level of exposure depends upon the dose, duration, and work being done. Hydrogen peroxide is used in many industries.

Clean With Hydrogen Peroxide or Alcohol? FALSE. Using hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol to clean an injury can actually harm the tissue and delay healing. The best way to clean a minor wound is with cool running water and mild soap.

A process called sterilization destroys spores and bacteria. It is done at high temperature and under high pressure. In health care settings, sterilization of instruments is usually done using a machine called an autoclave.

Sterilization describes a process that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life, including spores. Disinfection methods can involve the use of physical (e.g., heat or ultraviolet light) or chemical (e.g., disinfectants) processes to reduce, inactivate, or destroy pathogenic microorganisms.

Chlorine-based disinfectants such as sodium hypochlorite are recommended for the environmental control of C. difficile spores (23).

White blood cells: Serving as an army against harmful bacteria and viruses, white blood cells search for, attack and destroy germs to keep you healthy. White blood cells are a key part of your immune system.

Use water (cold or warm) and plenty of soap. Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds (away from the water). Rinse your hands. Dry your hands well on a clean towel or air dry.

Hydrogen peroxide does kill germs , including most viruses and bacteria. A concentration of 3% hydrogen peroxide is an effective disinfectant typically found in stores.

Why is 70 alcohol a better disinfectant? ›

70% IPA solutions penetrate the cell wall more completely which permeates the entire cell, coagulates all proteins, and therefore the microorganism dies. Extra water content slows evaporation, therefore increasing surface contact time and enhancing effectiveness.

A germicide is a substance or mixtures of substances that kill a number of microorganisms (e.g., viruses, fungi and bacteria)

Hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite disinfectants are more effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms than quaternary ammonium compounds.

Antibacterials are now most commonly described as agents used to disinfect surfaces and eliminate potentially harmful bacteria. Unlike antibiotics, they are not used as medicines for humans or animals, but are found in products such as soaps, detergents, health and skincare products and household cleaners.

Oxiclean Laundry & Home Sanitizer is one of the products listed for disinfecting laundry against monkeypox. Several other products that contain bleach, alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide may also help disinfect items that have come in contact with the virus, according to the EPA.

Kill 99.9% of Viruses and Bacteria with Lysol® Disinfectant Spray on hard and soft surfaces throughout your home. Lysol Disinfectant Spray can be used throughout your home, on surfaces such as: Kitchen areas: Sinks.

Aside from measuring at less than 50 nm in size, these viruses are hard to kill with disinfectants due to the presence of a very resistant protein coat—a capsid—that requires denaturation. The capsid of a non-enveloped virus is made of protein, offering a higher resistance compared to lipid layer of enveloped viruses.

Among them Chlorine is the most widely used primary disinfectant throughout the world.

Bleach is one of the best household cleaners to use with any virus. Most households already have this extremely common item. When cleaning, mix half a cup of bleach with a gallon of hot water. Wipe down surfaces like tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets and sinks.

What is the most common disinfection by product? ›

The most common method of disinfection is through the addition of chlorine to drinking water supplies. Chlorine effectively kills waterborne bacteria and viruses and continues to keep the water safe as it travels from the treatment plant to the consumer's tap.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared HLDs contain one or more of the following active ingredients¹ (this is not a full list): Glutaraldehyde. Ortho-Phthaldehyde. Peracetic acid.

Glutaraldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA), are cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are dependable high-level disinfectants.

Even though you may think the higher concentration is more effective, experts say 70% is actually better for disinfecting. It has more water, which helps it to dissolve more slowly, penetrate cells, and kill bacteria.

The results of the experiment were that bleach worked the most effectively to kill bacteria.

Glutaraldehyde is considered one of the most effective disinfectants for hospital use.

While 70% isopropyl alcohol makes a very effective disinfectant, the more concentrated version of 91% isopropyl alcohol also has some incredibly beneficial uses. This liquid can also be used to clean and disinfect surfaces, and it's safe to use on skin too.

Isopropyl alcohol is effective against viruses such as FCV at 40% – 60% concentrations. Ethanol however, is more effective at 70% – 90% concentrations against FCV. Contact time indicates how effective an alcohol is against a target microbe in a given period of time.

One of the key uses of Isopropyl Alcohol 91% USP grade is as a disinfectant and cleaning agent. It is commonly used to clean and disinfect surfaces, equipment, and medical instruments. It is also used as a solvent in the production of cosmetics, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals.

What cleaner kills 99.9 of germs? ›

Hypochlorous kills 99.9% of Viruses and Bacteria – CleanSmart.

Acids. Acid cleaners are the most powerful type of cleaning agent and should be used with care. If they are not diluted correctly, acid cleaners can be very poisonous and corrosive.

Chlorine-containing solutions have universal disinfectant activity. With proper concentration and sufficient contact times, hypochlorite solutions can be considered chemical sterilants since they will inactivate bacterial spores.

The most commonly recommended disinfectant for lab surfaces is a 10-percent solution of sodium hypochlorite (or bleach), which is considered an intermediate-strength chemical germicide.

Chlorine is most commonly used as disinfectant because it is powerful and remains in water for a long time.