Disinfectant types - how do disinfectants differ?

Put a drop of disinfectant on the palm of your hand, rub it in - and bang! already the good feeling of perfect cleanliness spreads. But what do we put on our skin – regularly since the pandemic? And how do the different ones differ types of disinfectants? Wir haben für dich die Unterschiede beleuchtet.

Disinfectant differences

Disinfectants differ not only in their ingredients, packaging sizes and design, but also in their areas of application. Because depending on the application, different chemicals have to be added during production or may not be used at the moment.

○ Surface disinfection

Hospitals, catering companies, research institutions - in these and many other contexts, perfect cleanliness of the work surfaces is urgently required. Surface disinfectants are often sprays or liquid products. Depending on the preparation, the disinfectant is allowed to take effect. In the food sector, it is also intended that the corresponding surface be reworked with water. Aldehydes are usually used as the active ingredient in surface disinfectants because they have a broad spectrum of activity.

○ skin disinfection

You probably have a disinfectant in your bathroom, on a cupboard in the hallway for visitors or in your handbag. Hand disinfectant frees hands, fingers and the spaces between the fingers from bacteria or viruses or, in the best case, from both - that depends on the spectrum of action of the product. The active ingredient is usually alcohol. From a proportion of 70% alcohol, a disinfectant kills enveloped viruses such as the corona virus.

○ Disinfection of instruments & material

At the dentist and in the operating room, instruments and materials must always be cleaned perfectly - and in addition to the supporting ultrasonic baths, disinfectants are of course also used. For disinfectants for these purposes, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite or chlorine dioxide are considered to be the most effective active ingredients.

○ Food or drinking water disinfection

Of course, liquids such as drinking water and food can also be disinfected. The procedures required for this are carried out using chemical or thermal processes. In chemical processes, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite are used as active ingredients.

Individual ingredients of disinfectants

Let us now turn to the individual components that make up disinfectants. We have prepared a list of the ingredients for you that are found in the various types of disinfectants condition….

○ Chlor

When you enter almost every swimming pool, you are immediately greeted by the typical smell of chlorine. Of course, because it cleans the bath water. But not only that. Chlorine is also used to disinfect drinking water and to eliminate unpleasant odors, etc. In its pure form it is yellowish-green and belongs to the halogens. Chlorine may only be used within permissible exposure limits. If this is exceeded, chlorine can irritate the upper respiratory tract and cause skin rashes.

○ Iod

Iodine is mainly used for wound disinfection and has a killing effect on bacteria, fungi, spores and viruses. However, it is not an ultimate disinfectant against viruses due to unreliable effectiveness. Warning: in the case of hyperthyroidism, careful attention must be paid to the amount of iodine used so as not to provoke a negative effect.

○ Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is mainly known to you because of the hair dye? Understandable, but H2O2 is also used for disinfection. The main area of application is the disinfection of surfaces and utensils. Incidentally, you can also use peroxide to remove mold stains from your bathroom at home.

○ Alcohol

The classic alcohol ethanol, which is known from relevant luxury foods, is also used for most hand disinfectants. An ethanol content of over 70 percent ensures high effectiveness against enveloped viruses. Isopropanol can also be processed as an alternative to ethanol.

○ acids

Acids are also used for disinfection, but mainly for hygiene in stables. The acids – for example formic, acetic and citric acid – serve in this context to lower the pH value.

Disinfection spectrum of action

Also within one type of disinfectant there are different target organisms, so that one type of germ can be specifically eliminated. If you are looking for a disinfectant, you will find the following labels on the packaging:

○ bactericidal

This type of disinfectant works against bacteria, but not against viruses. What seems to be almost the same to many people makes a big difference in both diseases and prevention with disinfectants. So if you want to protect yourself from contracting the coronavirus, an antibacterial disinfectant is not enough.

○ fungicide

An antifungal product will help you fight fungus. With the help of a chemical or biological agent, fungi and their spores are killed so that the fungus cannot spread further.

○ limited virucidal

This type of disinfectant works against viruses - but not against all. Limited virucidal disinfectant only fights enveloped viruses. These include influenza and corona viruses.

○ limited virucidal plus

The plus stands for other types of viruses that can be combated with an appropriate disinfectant. In addition to enveloped viruses, a limited virucidal disinfectant can also tackle adeno, rota and noroviruses.

○ viruzid

Shrouded or not, these type of disinfectant strikes an all-round blow and provides the ultimate protection against germs and contagion. So if you not only want to protect yourself against infection with SARS-Cov-19, but also against enteroviruses, rhinoviruses or astroviruses, the best thing to do is to use a virucidal product.

RKI Definition list

That Robert Koch Institute has published a list of the approved processes for manufacturing disinfectants and the permitted ingredients. Depending on the type of disinfectant, the procedure is explained here, the exposure time and concentration are specified and a suitable manufacturer is named. Handy if you are looking for a disinfectant for a specific context.

Buy reliable skin sanitizer

For private applications, however, we at WIESENBERG still have something very special for you: our disinfectant with care factor and fragrance. We turn hygiene into an experience and replace the unpleasant, acrid odor that makes disinfectants so unpopular with a fresh scent. Our exclusive care ingredient also ensures that your hands do not dry out and feel supple and well-groomed at the same time. Curious? Then give it a try 🙂 .