A Germany company has come up with Liquid Glass. Also known as SiO2 in ultra thin layering, this transparent film of material is only 100 nanometers thick (1/500 the width of a human hair) but it can repel water, deter bacteria and fungus growth, protect against wear, and still allow the surface underneath to breathe.
It is harmless to the environment and could replace a variety of harsh cleaning chemicals. The coating can be cleaned with water alone, and tests by food-processing companies have shown that a good hot water rinse left liquid-glass-coated surfaces as sterile as normal surfaces doused with strong disinfecting bleach. The coating is also flexible and breathable, so it can be applied to both static and non-static surfaces.
According to a news release, it is in trial use in hospitals in the UK for coating equipment, medical implants, catheters, sutures, and bandages. It is also used on trains and luxury furniture. Germany has approved it for open distribution, and the UK is likely to do so this year. Hopefully it will come to the US soon. Reputable sites have covered this, but it seems like one of those 'too good to be true' so don't get out your wallet, yet.