Barbicide
Encyclopedia
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
s and hair salons to disinfect items such as comb
Comb
A comb is a toothed device used in hair care for straightening and cleaning hair or other fibres. Combs are among the oldest tools found by archaeologists...
s and scissors
Scissors
Scissors are hand-operated cutting instruments. They consist of a pair of metal blades pivoted so that the sharpened edges slide against each other when the handles opposite to the pivot are closed. Scissors are used for cutting various thin materials, such as paper, cardboard, metal foil, thin...
, where it is a very well-recognized symbol of cleanliness and sanitation, and has been for decades; indeed, a jar of Barbicide sits on display in the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
's National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Archie Bunker's...
, and many customers demand that a comb or scissors be dipped in it if dropped. In many salons, each barber or hair stylist will have his or her own supply of Barbicide displayed on a shelf in a distinctive glass-and-stainless-steel Barbicide jar, also made by King Research.
Barbicide is a United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
-approved hospital disinfectant. It is a germicide
Pathogen
A pathogen gignomai "I give birth to") or infectious agent — colloquially, a germ — is a microbe or microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus that causes disease in its animal or plant host...
, pseudomonacide
Pseudomonas
Pseudomonas is a genus of gammaproteobacteria, belonging to the family Pseudomonadaceae containing 191 validly described species.Recently, 16S rRNA sequence analysis has redefined the taxonomy of many bacterial species. As a result, the genus Pseudomonas includes strains formerly classified in the...
, fungicide
Fungicide
Fungicides are chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores. Fungi can cause serious damage in agriculture, resulting in critical losses of yield, quality and profit. Fungicides are used both in agriculture and to fight fungal infections in animals...
, and viricide
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
. In addition, it kills the HIV-1 virus (AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
virus), Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
. Contact can cause irritation to the skin and eyes, and consumption of as little as 50 mL can cause a person's system to go into shock and may lead to death if not treated quickly.
Barbicide technicians claim it is the only disinfectant of its kind which holds its power and color over time; all of its competitors' products eventually turn green or brown.
Barbicide's active ingredient is Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (5.12% by volume). It also contains sodium nitrite
Sodium nitrite
Sodium nitrite is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula NaNO2. It is a white to slight yellowish crystalline powder that is very soluble in water and is hygroscopic...
, amongst other things. It is sold in concentrated solution which salons dilute with water, generally in a ratio of 1/4-cup concentrate to 4 cups of water (2 oz. in 32 oz.) or 59ml in 946ml, which the accompanying jar is perfectly sized to hold.
According to Ben King, son of the inventor, Maurice named the solution Barbicide because "He hated barbers. Barbicide meant 'to kill the barber'. It was his secret joke."
At one time, its use in barber shops was mandated by law - by name - in several US states; it still is in two.