Introduction
Dettol Antiseptic Liquid Disinfectant is the name of commercial liquid and solid antiseptic products belonging to a household product line manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser.
The traditional liquid product is a light yellow colour, but becomes milky white when diluted in water. This diluted mixture can be used to clean cuts etc.
The active ingredient which defines its unique antiseptic property is an aromatic chemical compound known as chloroxylenol (C8H9ClO). This makes up 4.8% of Dettol's total mixture,[1] with the rest composed of pine oil, isopropanol, castor oil soap, caramel, and water. Because several of the ingredients are insoluble in water, Dettol produces a white emulsion of oil droplets when diluted during use.
Diluted Dettol can also be used to treat acne[2] in small quantities, but it must not come into contact with eyes, mouth, or nasal passage[citation needed]. Its topical application is a remedy for boils (skin abscess).[citation needed]
Like other household cleaners, Dettol is poisonous and should not be ingested. In an extreme case, a forty-two-year-old British man died from Dettol overexposure in May 2007.[3] The company ran a controversial advertising campaign where it claimed that your toilet seat was cleaner than kitchen work surfaces. It was forced to withdraw the campaign.
In Australia, the use of Dettol in a spray bottle is used to combat Cane Toads, as spraying the disinfectant kills the toads quickly.
Dettol has been a highly reputable producer of hygiene products in the UK for numerous years. They are a company that takes great pride in the accomplishments and achievements that they have made. With numerous products working for both them and the customers that use them they have made great strides in keeping hygiene in the home and office around the country.
Dettol handwash is a very common product that can be found filling many of the soap dispensers in restaurants, schools and even hospitals in this country.