Preparations serving as preservatives, fungicides, disinfectants and insecticides, comprise a bis-(hydroxyaryl)-oxide, or -amine, or -alkylamine mixed with a solid, semi-solid, or liquid diluent or carrier. The active compounds may contain further substituents such as halogen, alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, or additional hydroxy or alkoxy groups and may be used in the form of salts. The preparations may be used in the manufacture of antiseptic wax or like polishes. Specified diluents are talcum, soap, glycerol, wool fat, petroleum jelly, liquid paraffin, yellow and other waxes, alcohol, alkalies, ammonia, water, and isobutylnaphthalene sulphonic acid. Specification 349,004 is referred to. According to an example a disinfectant polish is prepared by adding a mixture of bis-(dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) oxide and yellow wax to an ordinary polish base. The yellow wax may be replaced by other waxes or solvents such as liquid paraffin. Numerous other specific active compounds of the general classes referred to are mentioned.ALSO:Compounds of the general formula (HO.Ar)2X, where Ar is an aryl residue such as phenyl or naphthyl and X is oxygen or a nitrogen atom attached to hydrogen or an alkyl group are used as disinfectants, insecticides, and fungicides. The compounds may contain further substituents such as halogen, alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, or additional hydroxy or alkoxy groups and may be used in the form of salts. The bis-(hydroxyaryl)-oxides are obtainable by condensing an alkali salt of a hydroxy-alkoxy-aryl compound with an alkoxy-aryl halogenide and splitting off the alkyl groups in the customary manner from the bis-(alkoxyaryl)-oxides obtained. Further substituents may be introduced before or after the alkyl groups have been split off. The bis-(hydroxyaryl)-amines are obtainable by condensing an alkoxyaryl-amine, preferably in the form of its acetyl derivative, with an alkoxyaryl-halogenide and then splitting off the alkyl groups from the product. Substituents may be introduced as before. Of the specific compounds referred to: bis-(dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-oxide is obtained by reacting upon 1 mol. of bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-oxide with 8 gram atoms of chlorine; bis-(4-hydroxy-dichlorophenyl)-amine and the corresponding methylamine are prepared by reacting on 1 mol. of bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-amine or -methylamine with 8 gram atoms of chlorine; bis - (4 - hydroxy - 3.5 - dibromophenyl) - amine or -ethylamine are obtained by brominating the corresponding unsubstituted compounds; bis-(2-hydroxy-bromophenyl)-amine is prepared by condensation of ortho-bromo-anisol with ortho-N-acyl-anisidine, brominating the bis-(2-methoxyphenyl)-acyl-amine obtained to form bis-(2-methoxy-bromophenyl)-acyl-amine, and subsequently splitting off the acyl and methyl groups. Other compounds definitely referred to are bis-(2-hydroxy-5-bromophenyl)-oxide, bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-amine, bis - (2 - hydroxy - 5 - chlorophenyl) - oxide, bis-(2 -hydroxy - 3 : 5-dichlorophenyl) - oxide, the corresponding 3 : 5-dibromo compound, bis-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-oxide, bis-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-oxide, bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-oxide, bis-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-amine, bis - (3 - hydroxyphenyl) - amine, bis - (2 - hydroxynaphthyl)-1-amine, 2-hydroxy-41-hydroxydiphenyl-amine and corresponding N-alkyl compounds, 41 - hydroxy - 4 - hydroxy - 3 : 5 - dibromo - diphenyl - N - methylamine, 4 : 41 - dihydroxy - 3 : 6-dimethyl-diphenylamine, 4:41-dihydroxy-21-methyldiphenylamine, 4 : 41 - dihydroxy - 3 : 5 - dichloro - di - phenylamine, and alkali compounds of some of these.ALSO:Preparations serving as preservatives, fungicides, disinfectants and insecticides, comprise a bis-(hydroxyaryl)-oxide, or -amine, or -alkylamine mixed with a solid, semisolid, or liquid diluent or carrier. The active compounds may contain further substituents such as halogen, alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, or additional hydroxy or alkoxy groups and may be used in the form of salts. The preparations may be used for treating plants, seeds, fabrics wood, skins and catgut, for combating pests on domestic animals, and in the manufacture of cosmetic ointments or powders, tooth-washes, and antiseptic wax or like polishes. Specified diluents are talcum, soap, glycerol, wool fat, petroleum jelly, liquid paraffin, yellow and other waxes, alcohol, alkalies, ammonia, water, and isobutyl-naphthalene sulphonic acid. Numerous examples giving proportions are given in the Specification. Specification 349,004 is referred to. The bis-(hydroxyaryl)-oxides are obtainable by condensing an alkali salt of a hydroxy-alkoxy-aryl compound with an alkoxy-aryl halogenide and splitting off the alkyl groups in the customary manner from the bis-(alkoxyaryl)-oxides obtained. Further substituents may be introduced before or after the alkyl groups have been split off. The bis-(hydroxyaryl)-amines are obtainable by condensing an alkoxyaryl-amine, preferably in the form of its acetyl derivative, with an alkoxyaryl halogenide and then splitting off the alkyl groups from the product. Substituents may be introduced as before. Of the specific compounds referred to-bis-(dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-oxide is obtained by reacting upon 1 mol. of bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-oxide with 8 gram atoms of chlorine; bis-(4-hydroxy-dichlorophenyl)-amine and the corresponding methylamine are prepared by reacting on 1 mol. of bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-amine or -methylamine with 8 gram atoms of chlorine; bis-(4-hydroxy-3.5-dibromophenyl)-amine or -ethylamine are obtained by brominating the corresponding unsubstituted compounds; bis-(2-hydroxy-bromophenyl)-amine is prepared by condensation of ortho-bromo-anisol with ortho-N-acyl-anisidine, brominating the bis-(2-methoxyphenyl)-acyl-amine obtained to form bis-(2 methoxy-bromophenyl)-acyl-amine, and subsequently splitting off the acyl and methyl groups. Other compounds definitely referred to are bis-(2 - hydroxy-5-bromo-phenyl) oxide, bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-amine, bis-(2-hydroxy-5-chlorophenyl)-oxide, bis-(2-hydroxy-3 : 5 dichlorophenyl) oxide, the corresponding 3 : 5 dibromo compound, bis-(2 hydroxyphenyl) oxide, bis (3 hydroxyphenyl) oxide, bis - (4 - hydroxyphenyl) oxide, bis-(2-hydroxyphenyl) amine, bis-(3-hydroxyphenyl) amine, bis-(2 hydroxynaphthyl)-1-amine, 2-hydroxy-41-hydroxy-diphenyl-amine and corresponding N-alkyl compounds, 41-hydroxy-4-hydroxy-3.5-dibromo-diphenyl-N-methylamine, 4-41-dihydroxy-3 : 6-dimethyl-diphenylamine, 4-41 - dihydroxy-21-methyl-diphenylamine, 4-41dihydroxy-3 : 5-dichlorodiphenylamine, and alkali compounds of some of these.