Disinfectant ingredients

Disinfectant components

An effective disinfectant usually contains a high proportion of alcohol. But that’s not the end of it. We have listed the most important ingredients of disinfectants for you.

Ethanol

Ethanol is a frequently used ingredient in disinfectants. Alternatively, isopropanol can also be used. Ethanol is a monohydric alcohol that is also present in stimulants and used as a solvent for cosmetics and personal care products.It is important that the proportion of ethanol in a disinfectant is a good 70 percent or more for the disinfectant to be effective against viruses.

Oils

If you’re looking for a high-quality disinfectant, you can look at the ingredients list for oils. Oils are natural ingredients in disinfectants that not only have a calming effect, but can also bring a wonderful scent.

Auxiliary materials

Excipients include surfactants, for example. These ensure a reduction in surface tension, helping water and oils to mix well. They also act as transporters of the active ingredients to the germs to be killed.

Water

Of course, water is also found in disinfectants; there are even water-based disinfectants that dispense with alcohol and work in other ways. But: just because a disinfectant contains water does not make it water-based.

Thickener

Not every disinfectant contains thickening agents, but they are especially important for gels, so that the disinfectant gel retains its smooth texture and is easy to rub in.

Disinfect hands – but correctly

Especially in times of Corona it is of immense importance to disinfect your hands again and again and to pay attention to hygiene and distance in general. At the same time, you should not use your disinfectant too often, as the ethanol removes water from the skin and thus promotes dryness of the hands. It is better to disinfect your hands less often and to do so thoroughly and precisely. Time and again, for example, people forget to apply disinfectant completely to the spaces between their fingers. The fingertips also deserve some disinfectant. Never combine disinfection and hand washing. If you wash your hands after you have already disinfected them, you are not doing your hands any good at all. Your hands will only dry out even more.

In principle, it is advisable to disinfect especially when you have come into contact with things in public spaces that other people also touch, such as the shopping cart or the stop bar in the suburban train.

Spectra of action of disinfectants

In fact, not every disinfectant works the same. Below you will find an overview of the modes of action of disinfectants.

Limited virucidal

A limited virucidal disinfectant can take on enveloped viruses. However, a limited virucidal disinfectant has no chance against non-enveloped viruses. Enveloped viruses include influenza and coronaviruses.

Virucidal

A virucidal disinfectant provides all-around protection against all known types of viruses. Hepatitis B and C, adenoviruses, rotaviruses and noroviruses belong to the non-enveloped viruses, against which one can protect oneself with a virucidal disinfectant in the same way as against non-enveloped viruses.

Bactericidal

A bactericidal disinfectant kills bacteria but not viruses. So, for example, an antibacterial disinfectant will not help protect against infection with the novel coronavirus.

Fungicide

Fungicidal disinfectants act against fungi and disrupt their metabolism to kill them. Most of the time, however, they are powerless to remove the spores.

Does disinfectant work without alcohol?

Alcohol-free disinfectants are ph-neutral, mostly water-based, and do not emit an alcohol odor, which are immense advantages for some people. In fact, the mode of action of disinfectants with or without alcohol differs. While disinfectants with alcohol are referred to as protein denaturing, disinfectants without alcohol usually have an oxidizing effect. Chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide or benzyl peroxide are used here as the active ingredient. Hydrogen peroxide is contained, for example, in bleaches. There are certainly effective disinfectants without alcohol, but most products rely on ethanol content for good reason, because it guarantees effective cleaning.

The best disinfectant

Are you looking for a carefully developed disinfectant that you can rely on high-quality ingredients? Then you’ve come to the right place: Our disinfectant gel not only contains 72% ethanol, we’ve also put all our passion and know-how into the formulation to make your everyday life a little nicer. That is why this formulation also contains an exclusive care ingredient that gives your hands a pleasant skin feeling. Just try it out for yourself!