Let's Look at Disinfecting

What is Disinfecting?

A disinfectant is a chemical substance used to inactivate or destroy microorganism on surfaces and objects. It does not necessarily kill all microorganisms, especially resistant bacteria spores and it is less effective than sterilization, which is an extreme physical or chemical process that kills all types of life. Disinfection is a necessary process that if followed correctly will help to limit the spread of germs.

How does a Disinfectant kill Germs?

Disinfectants work by destroying the cell wall of microbes or interfering with their metabolism. In general, disinfectants have three mechanisms of action or ways that they affect or kill an organism: Cross-linking, coagulating, clumping, structure and function disruption and oxidizing.

Alcohol-based Disinfectants' mechanism of action is cross-linking, coagulation and clumping.Alcohol cause cell proteins to clump and lose their function. Specifically, the cell membranes lose their structure and collapse, thereby killing it.

Chlorine-based Disinfectants' mechanism of action is oxidizing.Chlorine works by oxidizing proteins, lipids and carbohydrates.

Peroxygen Compounds-based Disinfectants' mechanism of action is oxidizing.Both hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid are peroxygen compounds of great importance in infection control because, unlike like most disinfectants, they are unaffected by the addition of organic matter and salts.

Phenol-based Disinfectants' mechanism of action is cross-linking, coagulation and clumping.Phenol and its derivatives exhibit several types of bactericidal action. At higher concentrations, the compounds penetrate and disrupt the cell wall and make the cell proteins fall out of suspension.

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (quats) are some of the most used disinfectants worldwide.Quats work by taking away the proteins of the bacterial / fungal cell, affecting the metabolic reactions of the cell and causing vital substances to leak out of the cell, causing death.

While each of the chemicals described above are effective in certain applications, formulations are also made more or less effective by their other ingredients.

Our disinfectant has been tested against numerous viruses (including Covid-19 Sars-Cov-2), bacteria, fungi and algae.

Being part of our disinfecting program is your best defense against germs.

Contact us today for a free quotation.