[The possibilities and limits for virus inactivation in the household].

Viruses of importance brought into the household or excreted by its members vary in their resistance and are decimated or even completely inactivated by natural environmental influences as well as by washing and cleaning. Steps to disinfect the household should be limited to specific indications and performed with virucidal compounds harmless to the environment. Naturally antiviral influences such as heat, UV-rays, sunshine, acids, the effectiveness of washing and cleaning procedures in the household and some selected strongly virucidal, but non-pollutant disinfectants are discussed.