Described are methods for disinfecting a physical or biological surface by contact with an antimicrobial formulation comprising a substituted tolan compound, the substitutions being, for example, one or more alkoxy, (e.g., methoxy) and hydroxy substituents at one or both phenyl rings of the tolan. The compounds and methods are -static and/or -cidal, depending on dose and suspected microbe. Suspected pathogenic microbes include Gram negative bacteria, such as P. aeruginosa and E. coli, Gram positive bacteria, such as S. aureus, including MRSA, and fungal pathogens, such as Candida genus and C. albicans. Also described are methods for inhibiting or disrupting biofilm formation of a microbe or microbes.
