Know the truth about products that claim to kill 99.9 percent germs

A claim such as 99.99 percent germ kill may not be a plausible promise that many products can actually keep when it comes to their performance across various types of germs like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. While products can be 99.99 percent effective on one type of germ, they may not be effective on others that are tough to disinfect.

New Delhi: From SARS to H1N1 and now COVID-19, the last decade has seen many viruses and flues due to 'germs'. This has also given rise to dozens of new products which brag about their microbe-killing properties. Preventive hygiene products including sanitizers and handwashes, home care products like floor and toilet cleaners, come with a disclaimer that they kill 99.9 percent, or 99.99 percent, of common bacteria and fungi. We have seen it in ads, read them on labels ad nauseum. But have you stopped to consider what this actually implies? A claim such as 99.99 percent germ kill may not be a plausible promise that many products can actually keep when it comes to their performance across various types of germs like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. While products can be 99.99 percent effective on one type of germ, they may not be effective on others that are tough to disinfect.