Use of a combination of surfactants, chelating agents and essential oils for effective disinfection

A disinfecting composition comprising:

• (a) from about 0.001% to about 5% by weight of a chelating agent;
• (b) from about 0.01% to about 50% by weight of a surfactant of the formula:
• ##STR2## wherein R1 is an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 24 carbon atoms;
• R2 and R3 are independently an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms;
• n is an integer from 1 to 10;
• Y is selected from the group consisting of carboxyl and sulfonyl radicals;
• and wherein the sum of R1, R2 and R3 radicals is from 14 to 24 carbon atoms;
• (c) from about 0.003% to about 10% by weight of an antimicrobial essential oil;
• and
• (d) from about 0.5% to about 15% by weight of a peroxygen bleach.