Antimicrobial compositions for treating fabrics and surfaces

Disclosed are antimicrobial compositions that can be applied to fabrics and/or surfaces for both immediate and residual antimicrobial action against bacteria and fungi in order to suppress the spread of infectious agents. Also disclosed are compositions that may be introduced during the process of laundering fabrics, typically during a later stages such as a rinse, thereby suppressing or eliminating infectious agents remaining in the fabric and providing residual antimicrobial effects that may persist through the expected use of the fabric. The antimicrobial compositions include aqueous solutions including a mixture of ethanol, isopropanol, triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol), and a surfactant blend or package, the balance of the composition being water. Example embodiments of the surfactant package may include, for example, a blend of 3-methyl-2,5-furandione, 2,7-dimethyl-1-octanol, 2-butyl-1-octanol, 2-methyl-1-decanol, 1-dodecanol, 2-butyl-1-octanol, 2-ethyl-1-dodecanol, 1-tridecanol, 2-tetradecyloxylethanol, 2-dodecyloxyethanol, diethylene glycol monododecyl ether, hexaethylene glycol monododecyl ether, triethylene glycol monododecyl ether and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate.