Disclosed is a novel method for achieving an antimicrobial, preservative and/or microorganism adhesion inhibiting effect, for the protection within an article and/or material or on the surface of an article and/or material. The novel method comprises application of a salicylic compound of the formula (I) wherein one of A and A is a residue of the formula (I′): —NH—CO—R1 while the other is hydrogen; R1 is C1-C22alkyl, C3-C12cycloalkyl, C3-C12cycloalkyl interrupted by O and/or NR5, C4-C12aryl, C5-C18arylalkyl; R2 is OR3 or NHR4; R3 and R4 are selected from H, C1-C22alkyl, C3-C12cycloalkyl, C3-C12cycloalkyl interrupted by O and/or NR5, C4-C12aryl, C5-C18arylalkyl; R5 is H or C1-C8alkyl; wherein each aryl moiety is unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4alkoxy, C1-C4acyl, C1-C4acyloxy, C1-C4acylamino, CF3, OH, amino, halogen; or an adduct or salt thereof; to said article and/or material.