Koh UK logo
Koh UK logo
All articles

Does Universal Cleaner kill bacteria and viruses?Updated 10 days ago

TL;DR: No. Universal Cleaner is a cleaner, not a sanitiser or disinfectant. It lifts grease, food residue, and the soil that microbes live in so they rinse away, which removes them rather than killing them. It isn’t registered under the UK Biocidal Products Regulation and won’t kill viruses. If you need a kill step, clean first, then use a registered disinfectant carrying EN 1276 for bacteria or EN 14476 for viruses.


Read on ↓

Koh Universal Cleaner safe for homes and surfaces
Koh Universal Cleaner product features

Does Universal Cleaner kill bacteria?

No. Koh Universal Cleaner is a surface cleaner, not a sanitiser or disinfectant, and it makes no antibacterial claim. It works by lifting grease, food residue, and the organic soil that bacteria live in, so they are removed from the surface and rinse away with your cloth or water. That is a removal mechanism, not a kill mechanism. Universal Cleaner is not registered as a sanitiser or disinfectant under the UK Biocidal Products Regulation. For everyday kitchen and bathroom cleaning, including worktops and chopping boards after raw meat, cleaning thoroughly and rinsing well removes the soil that bacteria shelter in. If you need bacteria killed rather than removed, clean the surface first, then use a registered disinfectant carrying EN 1276 certification and follow its stated contact time.

✓ How Universal Cleaner works

No. Universal Cleaner is a surface cleaner, not a sanitiser or disinfectant, and it makes no antibacterial claim. It lifts grease, food residue, and the organic soil that bacteria live in, so they come away on your cloth and rinse down the sink. That is removal, not a kill. Clean thoroughly and rinse well after raw meat or on high-touch surfaces. If you need bacteria killed, clean first, then use a registered disinfectant carrying EN 1276 certification.

Lifts soil Removes, not kills No antibacterial claim

Does Universal Cleaner kill viruses?

No. Koh Universal Cleaner is a surface cleaner, not a virucide. It hasn't been tested or registered as a sanitiser or disinfectant under the UK Biocidal Products Regulation and won't kill viruses such as colds, flu, or COVID-19. For virus elimination after illness or before vulnerable household members visit, follow up your cleaning with a dedicated disinfectant carrying EN 14476 virucidal certification (the European standard for virucidal activity). Disinfectants work most effectively on a pre-cleaned surface, so cleaning with Universal Cleaner first and disinfecting after is the correct sequence.

⚠ Not a sanitiser or disinfectant

No. Universal Cleaner is a surface cleaner, not a virucide. It isn’t registered as a sanitiser or disinfectant under the UK Biocidal Products Regulation and won’t kill viruses like colds, flu, or COVID-19. For virus elimination, reach for a dedicated disinfectant carrying EN 14476 virucidal certification.

Not a virucide Not a disinfectant Not a sanitiser

What’s the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?

Cleaning physically removes grease, food residue, dirt, and organic matter from surfaces, including the soil that bacteria and viruses shelter in. Disinfecting chemically kills the pathogens remaining on a pre-cleaned surface using regulated antimicrobial actives. The two are complementary, not substitutes. Koh Universal Cleaner does the cleaning step: it lifts soil so it rinses away, and it is not a sanitiser or disinfectant. For a kill step, after illness or on high-touch surfaces, follow up with a registered disinfectant carrying EN 1276 for bacteria or EN 14476 for viruses. Disinfectants work most effectively on a clean surface, so the order matters.

✓ Clean first with Universal Cleaner

Cleaning removes the grease, food residue, dirt, and organic matter that bacteria and viruses shelter in. Universal Cleaner lifts that soil so it rinses away, and leaves the surface ready for a disinfectant if you need one.

Cleans Degreases Removes soil

✓ Disinfect after with a registered product

Disinfecting chemically kills the pathogens left on a pre-cleaned surface. Registered UK disinfectants carry EN 1276 for bacterial activity or EN 14476 for virucidal activity. Disinfectants work best on a clean surface, so the order matters.

EN 1276 EN 14476 High-touch surfaces
Koh Universal Cleaner 2L

Universal Cleaner

2L bag-in-box refill. The same two-ingredient formula in our most popular size. Approximately 3 months of cleaning for the average UK home.

Browse all Universal Cleaner articles

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Koh UK

koh universal cleaner bacteria uk, koh universal cleaner salmonella, koh universal cleaner e coli, koh universal cleaner ecoli, koh universal cleaner e.coli, koh universal cleaner campylobacter, koh universal cleaner foodborne bacteria, koh universal cleaner food poisoning, koh universal cleaner food safety, koh universal cleaner kitchen hygiene, koh universal cleaner worktop hygiene, koh universal cleaner raw meat, koh universal cleaner chicken, koh universal cleaner cross contamination, koh universal cleaner chopping board, koh universal cleaner viruses, does koh kill viruses, koh universal cleaner virucide, koh universal cleaner covid, koh universal cleaner coronavirus, koh universal cleaner flu, koh universal cleaner influenza, koh universal cleaner cold and flu, koh universal cleaner norovirus, koh universal cleaner sanitiser uk, koh universal cleaner sanitizer, koh universal cleaner disinfectant uk, koh universal cleaner not a disinfectant, koh universal cleaner not a sanitiser, koh universal cleaner not a virucide, koh universal cleaner en 1276, koh universal cleaner en 14476, koh universal cleaner hse, koh universal cleaner hse registered, koh universal cleaner biocidal products regulation, koh universal cleaner bpr, koh universal cleaner biocide, koh universal cleaner uk biocide, koh universal cleaner cleaning vs disinfecting, koh universal cleaner cleaning versus disinfecting, koh universal cleaner clean before disinfecting, koh universal cleaner after illness, koh universal cleaner sick household, is koh a disinfectant uk, is koh a sanitiser uk, is koh antibacterial, does koh kill germs, does koh kill bacteria, does koh kill bacteria and germs, does koh kill viruses uk, can koh be used to kill germs, koh universal cleaner allergy uk, koh universal cleaner uk delivery, koh british customers

Was this article helpful?
Yes
No