The Practice of the Dilution of Cleaning Solutions: Motivations and Risks

Abstract

The habit of diluting cleaning solutions is routinely practiced in many homes and facilities around the world every day. The aim of the present work was to analyze the antimicrobial effect on six pathogenic microorganisms transmitted by hand on the two most commonly diluted cleaning solutions used in the state of Paraíba (Brazil). This practice was identified by means of a questionnaire. The cleaning solutions were diluted in sterile water (1:2, 1:4, 1:8 and 1:16) and suspensions of Acinetobacter baumanii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes and Candida albicans were exposed to each of these solutions for 20 minutes. The yeast remained viable when the solutions had the highest concentrations of water. More than two-thirds of the 395 respondents admitted to having diluted detergent solutions because it was cheaper while believing that the dilution promoted antiseptic action, but not understanding the risk that this poses to health.