[Industry News] How does an alcohol swab kill bacteria? Alcohol has been used as a disinfectant for centuries. The most common disinfectant products in use today are topical alcohol and alcohol-based hand sanitizers made from an alcohol solution, usually isopropanol or ethanol. About 3000 BC in ancient Egypt. 5. palm wine is used to clean wounds and embalm dead bodies. Alcohol is very effective at fighting single-celled microbes such as bacteria, but advertisements for household disinfectants and other advertising often fail to explain the fascinating process by which alcohol kills bacteria. Thus, this article shall explain how alcohol swab kill bacteria.