While today the Lysol brand is known for its disinfectants and cleaners, few people know that it was first introduced as a medical antiseptic to help end a cholera epidemic in 1880's Germany. The original century old formulations of Lysol antiseptic can still be found in various countries around the world. Unfortunately, there's a bit of a dark patch in Lysol's history as the ingredients made it useful in suicides and inducing abortions.
Thankfully Lysol has done a ton more good in its history, saving countless lives with its disinfectant. During the 1918 spanish flu pandemic, Lysol disinfectant was advertised as an effective countermeasure to fight influenza and other viruses. Advertisements Lysol ran in newspapers provided helpful tips for preventing the spread of disease, notably including disinfecting hospital rooms with Lysol, as well as everything that came in contact with sick patients. Lysol without a doubt was instrumental in helping stop the spread of the pandemic.
Of course since then there have been a number of notable advancements in the Lysol products and brand. It was in 1930 that Lysol Brand Disinfectant Liquid was first introduced to drug stores and hospitals. In 1962 Lysol released the Lysol Disinfectant Spray, which used a revolutionary new method of aerosol application. Lysol began creating bathroom cleaners and released the Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner in 1968.
Lysol's All Purpose Cleaner was released in 1985, the product they might be most well known for today and in 1988 Lysol began shipping aerosol disinfectants to humid areas such as Houston, to fight the disease known as "lung rot". By the year 2000 Lysol introduced Lysol Disinfecting Wipes, the famous pre-moistened cleaning wipes for use on hard, non-porous surfaces. It was in 2009 that Lysol began producing hand soaps, and notably in 2020 lysol was the first EPA approved cleaning solution for fighting COVID-19.
The ownership of Lysol has changed hands a few times throughout the years: Lehn & Fink, the founding company, 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.
The Lysol brand is owned by Reckitt Benckiser Group, a manufacturer and marketer of health, hygiene, post-natal and home products, that was first listed on the London stock exchange in 1888 . Besides Lysol, Reckitt Benckiser has an expansive portfolio of other brands in the health and hygiene space. They include:
Air Wick - An indoor fragrance company with consumers in more than 80 countries around the globe.
Durex - Europe's first manufacturer of latex condoms and the number 1 Condom brand worldwide.
Woolite - Decades of fine fabric washing experience have established Woolite as the global brand people choose for their favorite clothes, making it the number 2 garment care brand in the world.
Vanish - Whether dealing with a stain on clothes or carpets, Vanish provides amazing stain removal that is safe and natural.
Finish - Dishwashing detergent brand on a mission to reduce water waste with their soak-free dish washing solutions.
Calgon - The only water softener recommended by leading washing machine manufacturers. It protects the vital parts of washing machines from limescale and dirt build-up for over 50 years.
Clearasil - A skin care company offering a range of acne treatment creams, facial washes and cleansing pads.
Mucinex - Number 1 Doctor-recommended cold and flu medication in the USA, and the number 1 over the counter brand used by doctors for their own cold symptoms.
Scholl - Scholl is a footcare company with over 100 years experience in the field. Their shoe insoles and inserts are trusted in over 50 countries around the world.
Nutramigen - A nutritious baby formula, it was the first formula to help with management of cow’s milk allergies in infants and young children.
A more recent addition to Lysol's, it hasn't taken long for Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to earn a cult following among people who care about cleanliness. Designed to remove the super tough odors caused by bacteria, that other laundry detergents might leave behind, Lysol Laundry Sanitizer will leave you impressed with how well it works. Lysol Laundry Sanitizer is the secret to the fresh linens and towels at some of the world's top hotels and resorts, so it's no wonder that more and more homekeepers are adding Lysol to their laundry and garment cleaning arsenal.
Do hospitals use Lysol spray?
Yes, Hospitals can use these products for bathrooms, food prep zones, and blood spills, since Hypochlorites effectively kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Is lysol a hospital grade disinfectant?
Lysol has a specific line of products that are hospital grade, they are called Lysol I.C.
How long does it take for lysol to kill germs and viruses?
According to a report by CNN The EPA conducted laboratory tests and found that Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist destroy the virus cells two minutes after contact.
Does Lysol kill roaches? Does Lysol kill fleas or bed bugs?
If you sprayed the bugs directly they will die. The alcohols and propellants would probably kill bed bugs if you sprayed them down with the cleaner. However, dried spray on or around the bed would have no effect.
Does Lysol ever expire?
After two years, the disinfectant spray and wipes may lose some of their effectiveness. If you keep using the product beyond this time, you'll likely notice the fragrance diminishing.
Is Foaming Hand Soap better?
In spite of the fact that foam soap is very effective if used correctly, it has been found to be less effective than liquid soap because it comes out of the pump as a lather, while the liquid soap lather is built up during hand washing. Also they found that the amount of soap in the foam is significantly less in a single pump than is found in its liquid counterpart.
Can Lysol be used to disinfect hands or food?
Lysol disinfecting and cleaning products are for surfaces and not for personal use. They cannot be used on the body or on food and always should be used as directed.
What surfaces should I avoid using Lysol on?
Always rinse washable toys and food contact surfaces with potable water after use. Lysol Spray Disinfectants are not recommended to be used on leather, rayon, silk or satin fabrics or acrylic plastics. Always test on a hidden area first.
Can you sterilize your face mask with Lysol?
We recommend you avoid directly breathing in Lysol products, which would happen if you sprayed Lysol on a face mask and didn't wash it immediately. Alternatively, you can use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer in pre soak to disinfect your face mask. Always check the label/material of your face mask and follow instructions for use. Disposable face masks should not be laundered or re-used.
Which Lysol products are effective against coronavirus?
The following 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.
Disinfectant Sprays
Lysol® Disinfectant Spray EPA #777-99
Lysol® Disinfectant Spray Max Cover Mist #777-127
Disinfecting Wipes
Lysol® Disinfecting Wipe EPA #777-114
Multi-Purpose Cleaners
Lysol® All Purpose Cleaner EPA #777-66
Lysol® Kitchen Pro Antibacterial Cleaner EPA 777-91
Laundry
Lysol® Laundry Sanitizer EPA #777-128 (in laundry pre-soak)
Lysol is currently testing its disinfecting products further. For the latest information be sure to check https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/for additional information.
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