The truth about products that claim to kill 99.9% of germs

From SARS to H1N1 and now to Covid-19, the past decade has seen many viruses and influenza caused by ‘germs’. It has also spawned dozens of new products that boast of their antimicrobial properties.

Preventive hygiene products, including disinfectants and hand washes, household cleaning products like floor and toilet cleaners, come with a warning that they kill 99.9%, or 99.99 %, of common bacteria and fungi. We’ve seen it in ads, read it on ad nauseum labels.

But have you stopped to consider what it really involves?

A claim like 99.99% germ killing may not be a plausible promise that many products can actually deliver when it comes to their performance against various types of germs like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. While the products may be 99.99 percent effective on one type of germ, they may not be effective on others that are difficult to sanitize.

Some of the more popular products with this claim are only effective on a small spectrum of germs and pathogens. The evidence comes in the form of small print somewhere on the container that lists the germs a product actually kills. And this list may or may not include some or all of the viruses. That means the 100 percent spectrum is limited, to begin with.

Not all disinfectants and medical fluids are created equal. Contrary to popular belief, disinfectant solutions can differ from each other in different ways. They may also have different efficacy claims and dilution ratios. The disinfectant solutions most commonly used for the maintenance of installations or the action of destroying germs in depth are composed of active ingredients such as sodium hypochlorite (bleach), quaternary ammonium (quat), hydrogen peroxide, silver ions, alcohol or acids, iodine, etc. own characteristics of germ killing, and when mixed with other compounds to be made into solution, they can be effective on different strains of pathogens.

So, what should you watch out for?

* Look for third-party certifications – Products certified by an independent test center, preferably affiliated with ISO, are unlikely to be able to claim something that they do not deliver. These details can be found on the labels of the products you choose. Go beyond high-end ads and complaints – read the fine print and commit before you buy.

* Be aware of the use scenario – When choosing a product, look for the active ingredients responsible for disinfection. Brands like Domex Surface and Floor Disinfectant contain sodium hypochlorite as an active ingredient. It is one of the strongest disinfectants available and acts on a broad spectrum of germs such as bacteria (both gram-positive and gram-negative), viruses (both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. more difficult to disinfect), fungi and spores. Various scientific publications confirm that sodium hypochlorite acts quickly and is not affected by hard water.

* Beware of products that try to do more than one job – 8/10 times products that try to sell as a cooling and disinfectant combined in one can be diluted, making less effective versions of products that focus on one central principle.

* Learn about the technology / science the product uses to make it happen.

* Product description sections on ecommerce platforms, labels, or the product website are good places to look for this information.

The use of disinfectants is important, especially at a time when daily hygiene is of utmost importance. However, it is imperative that we take a moment to assess the specifics of the product and its certifications to truly judge its effectiveness. As consumers, we need to be aware of what we are ultimately paying for.