Final answer:
Salons have shifted away from using bleach for disinfection due to its harshness and potential for damage, with alcohols and disinfectant wipes remaining common due to their effectiveness and less damaging effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
For disinfection purposes, salons generally no longer use bleach as one of their disinfectants. Bleach, specifically chlorine bleach, is recognized for its broad-spectrum efficacy but due to its harshness and potential to cause damage or irritation, it may not be the preferred choice in a salon setting where delicate instruments and surfaces are involved. Despite hydrogen peroxide being an environmentally safe alternative to chlorine-based bleaches, it can cause damage to skin that may delay healing or lead to scarring, which is why it might not be favored in salons. Meanwhile, alcohol and disinfectant wipes, often containing alcohols or other antimicrobial agents, remain common in salons for quick, effective disinfection.
Another disinfecting agent mentioned in the textbooks, mercury-based compounds, have fallen out of favor for use as preservatives and antiseptics due to their toxicity and environmental risks. Similarly, strength and safety issues affect the use of chlorine and specific peroxygens like hydrogen peroxide in salon environments, which may also favor the continuing use of alcohols and disinfectant wipes over bleach and hydrogen peroxide for their quicker action and less detrimental effects on both clients and salon workers.