Table 1.

Quick guide for disinfectant use

Chemical name	Bacteria	Envelope virus	Flammable or toxic gas	Human		Instrument
				Hand	Wound	Metal or glass	Acrylic resin
UV-C	●	●	-	✖	✖	M	●
Ethanol	●	●	F	●	✖	●	✖
Hydrogen peroxide	●	●	F	●	●	●	●
Phenolic cresol	●	●	F, G	✖	✖	✖	✖
Glutaraldehyde	●	●	G	✖	✖	●	●
Sodium hypochlorite	●	●	G1	✖	✖	✖	✖
Formaldehyde	●	●	G	✖	✖	●	●
Benzalkonium chloride	●	W	-	●	●	●	●

A filled circle indicates effective or recommend. An X indicates ineffective or not recommended. UV, ultraviolet; M, practicable for metal but not for glassware; F, flammable; G, toxic gas-producing; W, weak

¹When mixed with ammonia