Disinfectants To Keep Your Home Safe And Healthy!

By Ruchi Sharma

In the present scenario, it’s all about being safe and if there is one thing apart from wearing masks that will help in keeping your family safe then it is the use of Disinfectants! So, what exactly are disinfectants? They are basically substances or chemical agents that either inactivate or destroy microorganisms like bacteria on surfaces. Just like the hand sanitizers work in killing bacteria on hands, these work on getting rid of germs on surfaces or clothes. It’s really important to regularly disinfect not only the floors, door handles, etc in the house, but also the things that come from outside like clothes, parcels, groceries etc. 

Quite a few products have arrived in the market that claim to do the job perfectly. Many brands like Dettol, Savlon and Harpic are the pioneers of such products, but even more uncommon brands like Godrej, Raho Safe, Nature Protect, Marico and even Amazon Brand Presto are also introducing their products as well. Recognizing the need of the hour, we compiled a list of such disinfectants at one place so that it would be really easy for everyone to choose according to their needs. These vary right from the ones that can be useful for floors and surfaces to clothes and grocery packets!

1. Surface Spray Sanitizer

These sprays work equally well for both hard and soft surfaces. Be it sanitizing grocery packets that come from the market or the soles of shoes before entering the house, they do the job really well. The fact that one just has to spary this on to surfaces makes it very easy to use. The most common brands readily available in the market are Dettol Multi-Purpose Disinfectant Spray (Available in two fragrances- Spring Blossom and Original Pine) and Savlon Surface Disinfectant Spray Sanitizer. They just need to be sprayed and you don’t even have to bother wiping it. The one thing that needs to be avoided with them is not using them over copper, brass or painted surfaces.

2. Disinfectant Liquid Bathroom Cleaner

Most germs are often found in bathrooms so it is generally considered a good idea to thoroughly clean the tiles and floors of bathrooms regularly. These come in various fragrances like lemon, rose etc. and claim to remove very tough stains and kill 99.9% germs as well. The most common brand available for the same is Harpic.

3. Liquid Disinfectant

Who doesn’t have a bottle of good old Dettol at home? It is a really great disinfectant that helps in not only disinfecting the cuts and bruises but also surfaces like door handles etc. Though since it’s alcohol based, one needs to be careful of its use on metal surfaces since it may harm the polish if used for a prolonged time. The liquid disinfectants like Dettol (Original, Blue or Lime), Savlon etc., claim that they can be used in bath, laundry, floor cleaning and surface cleaning.

4. Disinfectant Toilet Cleaner

We all have this one at home probably. It is always a good idea to use a proper disinfectant toilet cleaner for cleaning toilets rather than using detergents. The toilet area is generally quite prone to germs of all kinds and thus it's really advisable to use an effective toilet cleaner made specially for the purpose to clean toilets. They not only help in disinfecting the toilet but also help in getting rid of those pesky stains and dirt. The most popular brand again for the same is Harpic!

5. Disinfectant Surface and Floor Cleaner

These are basically a disinfectant replacement for good old Phenyl that is most commonly used at homes to clean floors. This works just like Phenyl. All you have to do add one to two lids of this in the water that you'll use for mopping floors. Though if you have to get rid of heavy stains, it is recommended to use the product directly on the affected area. The most popular brand is Lizol and it claims that it comes in 7 different fragrances as well. Wow! That gives everyone an option to choose how their house smells after being freshly mopped!

6. Savlon Spray and Wipe

This multipurpose spray cleans and disinfects, claiming to kill 99.9% germs. It can be sprayed directly on any surface and then wiped off with a cloth or a sponge. Be it the dining table, microwave or the refrigerator, it can be used everywhere. This versatile cleaner claims that it can be safely used on even surfaces like kitchen slab, sink, stove, doorknob, mirrors or even windows.

7. Dettol Laundry Sanitizer

Keeping the laundry germ free and clean is really important as well. Though it's good enough if the clothes are washed regularly and then let out in the sun to dry but since this product claims to remove 99.99% germs on clothes, it deserved a special mention here. It has to be used as an after-detergent wash regime. It can be used in the washing machine as well. It claims to eliminate bacteria on synthetic fabrics that increase due to excessive oil present in human skin. With a subtle fragrance of spring blossom, it is gentle on clothes and is also recommended to be used as a winter clothes sanitizer.

8. Skin and Surface Sanitizing Wipes

These disinfectant wipes are great for both personal use as well as using around the house. This re-sealable moisture lock pack claims to be safe for use on skin but the main utility for it is for those people who need to commute and thus require a safe solution for sanitizing the surfaces that they come in contact with on the go. They are equally good for using at home specially for door handles, kitchen, appliances or even for bathroom surfaces! They are offered by various companies like Dettol, Savlon, Neko, etc. When it comes to surface wipes alone, there is a wider variety of brands to choose from like Domex, Scotch-Brite, etc. These wipes however are not suggested for use on skin and are restricted to be used only on surfaces.

Just like it’s really important to regularly wash hands or sanitize them, it’s equally important to keep the surroundings clean, specially our homes since the children and elderly spend most of their time at home, it becomes an added necessity to double check and ensure they reside in a clean environment. We hope at least some of the above disinfectant products help you in keeping your lovely home safe and disinfected. Are you using some different technique or product to disinfect your home? Do share it with us and our users as well!

We sincerely hope you and your family always stay safe and healthy. So please wear masks, and at the same time keep your surroundings clean!