What are disinfectants used for?

Disinfectants are specifically formulated to destroy or kill bacteria and some viruses, making them essential in maintaining hygiene and safety in various settings, particularly in the esthetics field. Their primary purpose is to reduce the number of pathogens on surfaces and objects to prevent the spread of infections.

Unlike cleaning agents, which may only remove dirt and contaminants, disinfectants actively eliminate microorganisms. This targeted action includes both bacteria and certain types of viruses, but not all viruses are affected by all disinfectants; therefore, they're not universally effective against every type of virus.

It's important to differentiate disinfectants from cleaning agents and sterilization methods. Cleaning agents may not have the pathogen-killing properties that disinfectants possess, and sterilization is a more thorough process aimed at completely eliminating all forms of microbial life, which is typically reserved for surgical instruments rather than household or surface cleaning. Thus, the capacity of disinfectants to effectively kill bacteria and some viruses makes them a vital component in both clinical and cosmetic environments for infection control and client safety.