Alkylating agents can affect nucleic acids, dyes like crystal violet inhibit cell division. Agents that control virus must affect their protein or their nucleic acid. Same agents that affect protein of bacteria can also affect viruses. Scrubbing enhances action of soaps and detergents 1. Most are of high pH, and contain sodium, and this will kill Streptococci, Staphylococci, Neisseria and influenza viruses.
Detergents allow water to penetrate and wash away microbes.
Anionic detergents useful in laundering clothes - less effective than cationic agents because bacteria are also negatively charged. Problem is that chlorine itself is inactivated by many organic materials Iodine e.g. Betadine and Isodine are used for surgical scrubs. Not effective against spores, and some strains of Pseudomonas can grow in the Betadine. Ethyl and isopropyl alcohol act as skin antiseptics. Does not sterilize because it evaporates so quickly.