A detergent and disinfectant in which water-soluble permanganates are used in an alkaline solution in order to initiate the oxidation of organic substances and simultaneously a chemical oxidant, preferably a peroxodisulfate, is used which is capable of producing radical reactions with catalytic support by manganates originating from the supplied permanganate, which reactions produce the oxidation of organic substances. All components are present in powder form and a respective powder mixture can be dissolved rapidly and free from residues in water. It thus represents a universally applicable, highly effective detergent and disinfectant.