Microbes are small living organisms (Figure 1) that are found all around us, and their ability to rapidly multiply in different environments makes them difficult to control in nature. Bacteria, moulds, fungi, algae and viruses in undesirable locations (Figure 2) can cause illnesses, food spoilage, surface stains, bad odours and reduced product life due to contamination or degradation. There are countless treatments that specifically help to reduce the growth and spread of microbes, and these are frequently tailored for the conditions of a particular environment. However, standard cleaning products, and even protocols that use surface disinfectants, ...