Provided is a method for killing spores that can efficiently and effectively kill spore-forming bacteria regardless of the bacterial strain. Provided is a method for killing spores in which step 2 described below is performed after completing step 1 described below. That is, after completing step 1 that is a step of bringing spore-forming bacteria and dipicolinic acid or a salt thereof into contact in conditions of pH 6 or lower, step 2 that is a step of killing the spore-forming bacteria is performed. Also provided is a method for killing spores that has a time period in which step 1 described below and step 2A described below are performed simultaneously. That is, step 1 is a step of bringing spore-forming bacteria and dipicolinic acid or a salt thereof into contact in conditions of pH 6 or lower, and step 2A is a step of physically killing the spore-forming bacteria.本發明提供一種可與菌種無關地高效且有效地對芽胞形成菌進行殺菌之殺芽方法。本發明提供於下述步驟1結束後進行下述步驟2之殺芽方法。即，作為步驟1，使芽胞形成菌與吡啶二羧酸或其鹽於pH值6以下之條件下接觸，於步驟1結束後，作為步驟2，對芽胞形成菌進行殺菌。又，本發明提供一種具有同時進行下述步驟1與下述步驟2A之期間之殺芽方法。即，作為步驟1，使芽胞形成菌與吡啶二羧酸或其鹽於pH值6以下之條件下接觸，及作為步驟2A，對芽胞形成菌進行物理性殺菌。
