A method for killing spores according to the present invention comprises carrying out step 1, step 2 and step 3. Specifically, step 1 comprises bringing a spore-forming bacterium into contact with dipicolinic acid or a salt thereof, step 2 comprises bringing the spore-forming bacterium into contact with a cationic surfactant, and step 3 comprises warming the spore-forming bacterium to 50 DEG C or higher. There may be a period during which step 1, step 2 and step 3 are carried out simultaneously.本發明之殺芽方法係進行下述之步驟1、步驟2及步驟3之殺芽方法。即，步驟1為使芽胞形成菌與2,6-吡啶二羧酸或其鹽接觸之步驟，步驟2為使芽胞形成菌與陽離子界面活性劑接觸之步驟，及步驟3為將芽胞形成菌加溫至50℃以上之步驟。步驟1及步驟2及步驟3亦可具有同時進行之期間。
