The desire for cleanliness and detoxification has been a part of human tradition for centuries, but our methods have definitely evolved over time. From strange traditions to phony science, sometimes our best intentions have ended up in some toxic results. These are just some of the ways humans have tried to clean and disinfect their spaces.
Burning Sulphur
In the ancient Greek epic poem The Odyssey (one of the oldest pieces of literature still around today) the author, Homer, writes that the protagonist demands sulphur be burned to cleanse and purify the space after he defeats his rival. While this could be seen as a form of B.C.-era Febreeze or sage-burning, it’s important to keep in mind that burning sulphur smells like rotten eggs. This is to say that after he had won a fight, the winner celebrated and removed the bad vibes from his home with the putrid fragrance of rotten eggs.
Mercury
Throughout other times in history, Mercury was used for cleaning and as a surface protectant. The theory was, if you could see the coating, it was protecting the surface. Or something like that. Unfortunately, Mercury is highly toxic. According to the World Health Organization, Mercury poisoning can lead to harmful effects on many body systems and organs, can cause neurological and behavioral disorders, and toxicity can lead to death. In some cases, it can drive you mad and essentially liquefy your insides. Not a great chemical to be rubbing all over the surfaces surrounding daily life.
The *Aha*
The strategy behind cleaning and disinfection began to change in the latter part of the 1600s when Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, the father of microbiology and observer-extraordinaire, discovered microorganisms in 1675. He then promptly observed how to kill some of them with acetic acid (vinegar) in 1676. This got others in the scientific community to consider the possibility that these previously invisible microbes were responsible for making people sick and with that, if they could kill or eliminate these organisms, people may not get sick. From there, people began to study the different chemicals that could be used to kill these now visible foes instead of just slapping a coating of some sort on them.
Bleach
Bleach has been used since 5000 BC by the Egyptians to whiten clothes and other linens, but it took until 1847 until it was used as a medical disinfectant. Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician discovered that rates of puerperal fever, also known as “childbirth fever”, could be drastically reduced when doctors washed their hands with a bleach derivative made of chlorinated lime solution. Various publications noted instances where Semmelweis’s findings helped to reduce maternal mortality to below 1%, however, his findings were not widely accepted as truth until after his death.
Phenols
Joseph Lister, a British surgeon and groundbreaker in the field of surgical antiseptics, pioneered the use of phenols (phenolics) as a hospital antiseptic and disinfectant in the 1880s. Lister used carbolic acid, a type of phenol, in his research of wound cleanings and tool sterilization. Phenols have fallen out of use in most clinical settings since the 1970s as it was found to be likely carcinogenic.
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QAC)
In 1916, the Rockefeller Institute discovered this new compound known as Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QAC). These were basically just okay at killing microbes on skin, but not the knock-down-drag-out bacterial killer scientists were hoping for. Because of this, scientists started looking into combinations that would make QAC more effective — a Batman-needs-Robin situation. They found what Lions and Redwings fans have known for years: just add alcohol. The supercharged combo of QACs and alcohol is now an intermediate-level disinfectant according to the EPA and capable of killing the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
The EPA website hosts a helpful guide to cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools, and homes including an up-to-date list of approved cleaning products and solutions. If you’re looking for a one-stop disinfectant service using EPA approved hospital-grade disinfectant, you can trust the pros at PurePro One. Check out the available options for commercial space disinfection on our site or contact us for a quote.