Introduction
In light of the COVID situation, we have all stepped up our cleaning game. Many of us feel it is not enough to just sanitise and disinfect our hands but also our homes! Disinfecting our homes is especially important for people who are leaving their homes frequently for groceries, work, or even exercise. In this article, we will learn more about the commonly used chemicals that are in our disinfectant products and how they compare to one another!
1) Quaternary ammonium compounds
One of the most common chemicals found in our disinfectants are the quaternary ammonium compounds.
Examples are:
- Benzalkonium chloride
- Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides
- Alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride
- Didecyldimethylammonium chloride
Basically, if you see the word “chloriDe” in your disinfectant’s ingredient list, the active chemical that is doing its job is the quaternary ammonium compounds.
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Effectiveness | - Disinfectant effect and some have detergent action
- Effective against bacteria
| - Antibacterial activity is reduced in the presence of organic material (Such organic materials include sweat, any matter that has come from any living organisms)
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Health Effects |
| - Lung irritants and can contribute to asthma and other breathing problems.
- They irritate skin too – and can lead to rashes.
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Caution: Do not use quat products on any food-contact surfaces (like cutting boards, plates or cutlery, high chair trays etc.) because these potent chemicals can contaminate the food they come into contact with, even well after cleaning is done.
2) Chlorine-based Disinfectants
Examples of chlorine-based disinfectants are:
- Sodium hypochlorite
- Hypochlorite water
- Potassium hypochlorite
Yes, as long as its “ChloriTe”, you are looking at a chlorine-based disinfectant.
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Effectiveness | - Effective against bacteria, enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, mycobacteria and fungi
- At high concentrations, it can kill spores
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Health Effects |
| - Creates antiseptic products such as trichloromethane and haloacetic acid which are carcinogenic (Cancer-causing)
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Caution: Similar to quats, such disinfectants cannot be near or used on any food products surfaces.
3) Oxygen-Based Sterilizers
Using Peracetic acid (CH3COOOH), a strong disinfectant that kills germs, fungi and viruses. It can also remove bad odour because it destroys the causative substance by decomposing it to acetic acid, oxygen and water without posing any environmental hazard. A concentration of 0.2% peracetic acid is active against all microorganisms including bacterial spores, and is effective in the presence of organic matter at low temperature
Furthermore, peracetic acid is a safe substance used as a food additive announced by KFDA (Korea Food and Drug Administration). Very suitable to sterilize kitchen tools and food preparation areas.
Mechanism
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Effectiveness | - Sterilizing agent against germs, fungi and viruses
- Effectively kill spores which becomes mould
- Safe to sterilize food and kitchen tools
- Does not mask smell but remove odour-causing germs/bacterias
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Health Effects | - Does not leave toxic residues, instead to common gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide gas
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Making safer choices for your homes
While we make an effort to keep our homes clean from germs, viruses and bacteria, we should also make informed choices on which safe active ingredients we should be using to protect ourselves and loved ones.
Contact Us to get your hands on one of our oxygen-based sterilizing products!
Posted by
Winn Chin Winn Chin is a life and beauty enthusiast who majors in Chemistry, and love synthesizing information to share content about products in their daily lives.
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