Why were chemical disinfectants once commonly compared with phenol?

The chemical components, which are utilized to eradicate or eliminate pathogenic microbes are known as chemical disinfectants. These comprise sodium hypochlorite, chlorine, bromine, hydrogen peroxide, chloramines, and others.

Traditionally, the chemical disinfectants are usually compared with phenol as phenol was the first or the foremost used chemical agent for the purpose.