What Are Disinfectants?
Disinfectants are simply those substances that are capable of terminating or killing the microorganisms from a particular place of application. Disinfectants are most commonly used to clean the clinics, hospitals and various other medical facilities. Disinfectants are also effective to use in kitchens and bathrooms. Main of using the disinfectants is to minimize the amount of microorganisms that are commonly present on a surface for example- on a floor or on a counter. This reduction in amount of microorganisms from a place also reduces the risk of a microbial infection. Almost all the general stores carry disinfectants (suitable for home use) and various medical stores carry stronger and concentrated disinfectants for medical usage.
Disinfectants Vs Antiseptics
Generally, a disinfectant is not able to sterilize a surface completely, but it can remove a large amount of microorganisms efficiently. Disinfectants are strong sterilizing agents and they have to be used with in strictly prescribed amounts and moreover in very regulated environment. In spite of disinfectants, Sanitizers can also be used for rough sterilization. Sanitizers are able to kill fewer microorganisms as compared to the disinfectants. Antiseptics are special products which are specifically for skin use only. Antiseptics are extremely milder then disinfectants and they have main use in surgical operations.
Many surfaces can be efficiently treated with the disinfectants, examples include- textiles (that can be treated in disinfectant solutions), counters, floors, tiles, concrete, walls (made from wood or concrete), glass. Strength of some disinfectant can be easily decreased or increased (according to the requirement); this can be done easily by using simple diluting agents like water.
Various Disinfectants
A large variety of compounds are available that can be used as efficient disinfectants. Alcohols are most common disinfectants. Other common disinfectants are iodine, bleach, phenolics and hydrogen peroxide. Most of the disinfectants are poisonous against pets and humans, so their use should be careful enough. Their use should also be “proper” because leaving microorganisms at a cleaned place will again leads into colonization of microorganisms at that place.
Intensity Of Disinfectants
Use of disinfectants at home prevents the spread of infections and diseases between the members of home. Use of disinfectants also minimizes the risk of kitchen based diseases like food borne illness. At medical platforms, where threat of more severe infections is involved; more concentrated and strong disinfectants are required.
Bleach- As A Disinfectant
Bleach is the best disinfectant that is readily available to use in houses. Bleach is extremely effective, safe (when handled carefully) and easy to use. It is versatile in applications. It can efficiently used to treat counters, sinks, floors as well as textiles which are contaminated by various microbial populations. House based disinfectants are easy to afford and they are widely available on general stores and medical outlets, but hospital based disinfectants are very expensive and their availability is also highly regulated by various governmental and medical organizations. One should encourage the use of disinfectants in home cleaning purposes, but one should use disinfectants with proper care and precautions only.
