The terrible pandemic that we have suffered has made us adopt hygiene habits not seen until now. In this regard, we have all used some type of disinfectant in recent months, either a hand disinfectant, like hydroalcoholic gel, or a surface one, like bleach, for example. If we delve deeper into this topic, it is worth noting that disinfectants, just like most chemical products, must be applied properly in order to perform the function for which they were designed correctly. That is, a disinfectant is not suitable for all types of applications, nor is it appropriate to be applied in any way, nor will it eradicate all the pathogens it encounters. For a disinfectant to be effective, different variables must be taken into account. This article aims to address the most common questions that arise in our daily lives, and we are sure it will be useful to you. 
Before starting, we need to know what we are talking about, therefore:
What is a disinfectant?
It is a mixture of compounds designed to eradicate or eliminate microorganisms or pathogens.
Does any disinfectant eliminate all the pathogens it encounters?
No. There are different technologies and types of disinfectants on the market.
We must be clear that there are millions of types of pathogens, each with a different “weak point,” and also, they do not all grow under the same conditions or are harmful to health. For example: while a bacterium such asE. Coli lives in our intestine and causes food poisoning, the Lactobacillus bacteria found in probiotic foods are considered beneficial for humans.
Regarding the types of disinfectants that we can find on the market, broadly speaking, they can be classified into:
- Alcohol-based disinfectants, (Based on alcohol such as hydroalcoholic gel).
- Chlorine-based disinfectants, (Based on sodium hypochlorite, like bleach).
- Acid-based disinfectants, (Based on peroxides, like hydrogen peroxide).
- “Bleach-free” disinfectants, (Based on cationic surfactants, like Neobacter 100).
Each of them has different qualities and specificity. That is to say, while chlorine-based products are used on surfaces such as floors, walls, or stainless steel, alcohol-based products are used on the skin. As for those based on cationic surfactants, they are mainly used in areas where a high degree of disinfection and zero corrosive capacity is desired. Obviously, not everyone knows the chemical or microbiological characteristics of a disinfectant product. Therefore, the European regulations on the marketing and labeling of disinfectants indicate to manufacturers how to inform the end user of the effectiveness of the disinfectant they “have in hand.” For this, we must bear in mind that only if a product has passed specific tests and has been authorized by the Ministry of Health, can it be marketed as a disinfectant. You will see these tests indicated as “Meets UNE-EN 13647” if it eliminates bacteria and fungi, and as “Meets UNE-EN 14476” if it is also effective against certain standard viruses. If the product passes the tests, it receives a “registration number” denoted as “XX-20/40-XXXX” if the product is Bactericidal-Fungicidal, or “XX-20/40/90-XX” if the product is Bactericidal-Fungicidal-Virucidal. Furthermore, if this registration number is followed by the letters HA, it specifies that the product is suitable for use in the food industry.CASE STUDY: Suppose we have a disinfectant, whose registration number (shown on the label) indicates that the product is Bactericidal-Fungicidal-Virucidal.Should I use it on the kitchen countertop and that’s it?No. Disinfectants exhibit their maximum effectiveness when used on clean surfaces. If the surface is dirty, a large part of the disinfectant will be “neutralized” by the dirt and will not be fully effective against the pathogens. Let’s consider the following analogy: A disinfection process is like a soccer match. There are two teams, the team made up of the pathogens and the team made up of the disinfectant. Under equal conditions, the disinfectant team will win against the pathogen team, but if we add a new team to the pathogen team, the dirt team, the disinfection team will find itself at a disadvantage and its victory will not be as decisive. This analogy is highly regarded in the food industry. In this sector, a thorough cleaning is always performed first, followed by a specific disinfection for the microorganisms commonly found in food production processes.
Can any user use any disinfectant?
No. The regulation is very strict in this regard:
Ready-to-use products: They can be used by both professional and domestic users. Concentrated products: They can only be used by professionals. In this regard, the standard also differentiates between “professional user” and “specialized professional user.” While a professional user is someone who uses the product in their own facilities. For example, an operator in a food product factory, the second is someone who uses the product to provide a service to a third party. For example: A qualified worker from a cleaning company who provides services to an office. This differentiation is carried out to limit access to products with a certain level of hazardousness to users who may not have the necessary knowledge for the correct use of the product. In conclusion, from the previous concepts it can be inferred that the term disinfectant is very broad and that it is a very interesting sector in terms of products and cases. Due to its special sensitivity, it requires specific products to fulfill its purpose under the most demanding circumstances. Since at Neoquim we are aware of how complex the world of disinfection is, we want to contribute our bit so that you can achieve “total hygiene” in every circumstance you set out for. To this end, we have a complete range of disinfectants in which we have included three new references:
- Neobacter 100: Bactericidal-Fungicidal-Virucidal Concentrated Disinfectant, specific for the food industry, authorized under registration number: 21-20/40/90-10885-HA and with which you can obtain up to 330 L of disinfectant solution using only 1 liter of concentrated product.
- Neoviric: Bactericidal-Fungicidal-Virucidal Concentrated Disinfectant, specific for healthcare areas, communities, and institutions, authorized under registration number: 22-20/40/90-11476 and with which you can obtain up to 1000 L of disinfectant solution using only 1 liter of concentrated product.
- Neosanit : Ready-to-use Bactericidal-Fungicidal Disinfectant, suitable for all types of surfaces, authorized under registration number: 22-20/40/11475, which can be used under all types of situations and by any type of user.
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