In conclusion, low temperature defaults of aldehyde and quaternary based disinfectants are known to be problematic and may give rise to incomplete disinfection at low temperatures below 10oC. Oxidising disinfectants do not suffer from this temperature effect but may be inactivated by organic matter.
How does temperature affect disinfectants?
For example, the activity of most disinfectants increases as the temperature increases, but some exceptions exist. Furthermore, too great an increase in temperature causes the disinfectant to degrade and weakens its germicidal activity and thus might produce a potential health hazard.
Does disinfectant work in the cold?
Cold temperatures tend to not interfere with this reaction and therefore, the efficacy remains relatively stable. Therefore, oxidizing compounds can be used during warm or cold weather conditions without showing a large decrease in reaction rate or efficacy of the disinfectant.
