What chemical is commonly used to disinfect barber tools?

Isopropyl alcohol is widely recognized and commonly used in the barbering industry for disinfecting tools and equipment. Its effectiveness as a disinfectant stems from its ability to denature proteins and dissolve lipids, which is essential for killing bacteria, fungi, and viruses. It is usually used at concentrations of 70% for optimal disinfection, as this level allows the alcohol to remain on surfaces for sufficient time to kill pathogens effectively.

While other chemicals like benzalkonium chloride and hydrogen peroxide have disinfecting properties, isopropyl alcohol's ready availability, rapid evaporation rate, and effectiveness against a broad spectrum of microorganisms make it a preferred choice in barbershops. Ethyl alcohol is also effective but is less commonly used compared to isopropyl alcohol in many barbering settings due to availability and cost considerations.