Hong Kong Covid-19 fourth wave: vast majority of disinfectant products ‘less effective, far pricier’ than traditional virus-killing methods
- Consumer Council finds 80 per cent of branded products on the market are no match for the performance of alcohol or bleach solutions against pathogens
- That is despite multi-purpose sprays, which have been popular with shoppers during the Covid-19 crisis, being up to 20 times more expensive
The Consumer Council found only three of the 15 multi-purpose disinfectants analysed performed as well in consistently eliminating pathogens as simply using alcohol or bleach-based solutions.
That was the case even though the branded products were up to 20 times more expensive, the study published on Thursday revealed.
“From the test results, the council reminds consumers that diluted bleach solution, as compared to disinfectant sprays, is a relatively more economical, consistently effective and reliable choice for general disinfection,” the council’s chairman of research and testing Professor Nora Tam Fung-yee told a press conference.
Alcohol-based solutions were also more effective and reliable choices for disinfecting hands, the council said.
The brand-name products have proven attractive to customers over the Covid-19 crisis for their supposed convenience.
Many manufacturers claimed the products could be effective without the need for dilution beforehand, making them easier to use when disinfecting everyday items such as clothing and tables.