January 15, 2021 The Consumer Council has investigated the efficacy of brand-name disinfectant products, popular during the Covid-19 crisis. South China Morning Post Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has found that 80 per cent of disinfectant products proving popular during the Covid-19 pandemic are less effective in killing bacteria and viruses than the far-cheaper, traditional method of using diluted bleach. The Consumer Council found only three of the 15 multi-purpose disinfectants analysed performed as well in consistently eliminating pathogens as simply using alcohol or bleach-based solutions. That was the case even though the branded products were up to 20 times more expensive, the study published on Thursday (Jan 14) revealed.