It is light yellow in color in the concentrated form but, as several of the ingredients are insoluble in water, it produces a milky emulsion of oil droplets when diluted with water, exhibiting the ouzo effect.
[2] Like other household cleaners, Dettol antiseptic liquid is poisonous and should not be ingested.
Phenolic compounds are of particular concern because cats are unable to fully metabolize them.
A cat may swallow the product by licking its paws after it has come into contact with it.
Owing to concerns over potential harm to other Australian wildlife species, the use of Dettol as an agent for pest control was banned in Western Australia by the Department of Environment and Conservation in 2011.