Lysol

Lysol (; spelled Lizol in India) is a brand of American cleaning and disinfecting products distributed by Reckitt, which markets the similar Dettol or Sagrotan in other markets. The line includes liquid solutions for hard and soft surfaces, air treatment, and hand washing. The active ingredient in many Lysol products is benzalkonium chloride, but the active ingredient in the Lysol "Power and Free" line is hydrogen peroxide. Lysol has been used since its invention in the late 19th century as a household and industrial cleaning agent, and previously as a medical disinfectant.

History

The first Lysol Brand Antiseptic Disinfectant was introduced in 1889 by Gustav Raupenstrauch to help end a cholera epidemic happening in Germany. The original formulation of Lysol contained cresols. This formulation may still be available commercially in some parts of the world.

Formulations containing chlorophenol are still available in the United Kingdom.

In 1911, poisoning by drinking Lysol was the most common means of suicide in Australia and New York. One of the active ingredients, benzalkonium chloride, is highly toxic to fish (LC50 = 280 μg ai/L), very highly toxic to aquatic invertebrates (LC50 = 5.9 μg ai/L), moderately toxic to birds (LD50 = 136 mg/kg-bw), and slightly toxic ("safe") to mammals (LD50 = 430 mg/kg-bw).

Use during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic

In 1918, during the Spanish flu pandemic, Lehn & Fink, Inc. advertised Lysol disinfectant as an effective countermeasure to the influenza virus. Newspaper advertisements provided tips for preventing the spread of the disease, including washing sick-rooms with Lysol, as well as everything that came in contact with patients. A small (US50¢) bottle made of disinfectant solution, and a smaller (US25¢) bottle made . The company also advertised the "unrefined" Lysol F. & F. (Farm & Factory) for use in factories and other large buildings – a can, when diluted as directed, made of disinfecting solution.

Use as an abortifacient

Earlier formulations of Lysol contained cresol, a compound that can induce abortions, and it was widely used by women who could not otherwise obtain legal abortions in the United States, although the medical community was relatively unaware of the phenomenon for the first half of the 20th century. By the 1960s, published medical literature had acknowledged the common use of Lysol and other soaps to induce abortions, which could lead to fatal renal failure and sepsis.

Product innovations

* 1930: Lysol Brand Disinfectant Liquid was introduced to drug stores and hospitals.
* 1957/58 Lysol purchased the rights to private label National Laboratories, Inc's Disinfectant spray.
* 1962: Lysol released the Lysol Disinfectant Spray, which used a new method of aerosol application.
* 1968: Lysol began creating bathroom cleaners and released the Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner.
* 1985: Lysol All Purpose Cleaner was released.
* 1988: Lysol began shipping aerosol disinfectants to humid areas such as Houston, to combat occupational lung diseases, (also known as "lung rot").
* 2000: Pre-moistened Lysol Brand Disinfecting Wipes was released, a cleaning wipe for use on hard, non-porous surfaces.
* 2009: Lysol began producing hand soaps.
Ownership: Lehn & Fink was acquired by Sterling Drug in 1967 and Reckitt & Colman acquired L&F in 1994 when Bayer acquired Sterling-Winthrop. As of 2015 Lysol products were distributed by Reckitt Benckiser LLC of Parsippany, New Jersey.

Ingredients

Different Lysol products contain different active ingredients. Examples of active ingredients used in Lysol products:

* ethanol/SD Alcohol, 40 1–3%; fluid that acts as sanitizer
* isopropyl alcohol, 1–2%; partly responsible for Lysol's strong odor; acts as sanitizing agent and removes odor
* ''p''-Chloro-o-benzylphenol, 5–6%; antiseptic
* o-Phenylphenol, 0.1%; antiseptic; in use circa 1980s
* potassium hydroxide, 3–4%
* Alkyl (50% C14, 40% C12, 10% C16) dimethylbenzyl ammonium saccharinate, 0.10%; microbiocide
* Alkyl (C12-C18) dimethylbenzylammonium chloride, 0.08%; antiseptic
* Alkyl (C12-C16) dimethylbenzylammonium chloride, 0.02%; antiseptic
* lactic acid as an antiseptic.
* hydrogen peroxide

SARS-CoV-2 inactivating capability

According to their website, some of Lysol's products "have been tested by an independent third party and approved by the EPA to kill SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, on hard, non-porous surfaces."

Products

* Disinfectants: Lysol Disinfectant products are used to kill surface and air bacteria. Products include:
** Lysol Disinfectant Spray*: "Alkyl (50% C14, 40% C12, 10% C16) Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Saccharinate= 0.10% Ethanol= 58.00%, Other Ingredients= 41.90% (total 100%)"
** Lysol Disinfecting Wipes
** Lysol Concentrate Disinfectant
** Lysol Laundry Disinfectant - contains: didecyl-dimethyl ammonium chloride and dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride - claims effiacy against P. aeruginosa and COVID-19, with 99.99% (one extra "9", compared to most other Lysol products) effectiveness against all viruses and bacteria.
* Cleaners: Lysol distributes several multi-purpose cleaners, kitchen cleaners, and bathroom cleaners. These include:
** Lysol Power & Free
** Lysol All-Purpose Cleaner
** Lysol Multi-Surface Cleaner Pourable
** Lysol Power Kitchen Cleaner
** Lysol Bathroom Cleaner
** Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner
** Lysol Mold & Mildew Remover
* Hand Soaps: Lysol recently developed a line of disinfecting hand soaps. Products include:
** Lysol No Touch Hand Soap System
** Lysol Touch of Foam Hand Wash

Competition

Lysol's major competitors include Clorox, Febreze, Tilex, Oust, Mr. Clean and Pine-Sol.

See also

*Bactericide
*Disinfectant
*Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic
*Virucide

References

External links

Official websiteHistory of LysolKlerzix Disinfectant Wipes

{{Reckitt Benckiser

Reckitt brands
Antiseptics
Cleaning product brands
Products introduced in 1889