Considering the primary goal of endodontic treatment, Cleaning and shaping appears to be one of the most crucial step in endodontic therapy. It is only via adequate shaping and cleaning of root canal system, predictable root canal disinfection can be achieved. In view of complexity of root canal system, it is beyond doubt that instruments only cannot clean canals effectively. Hence, an irrigant is must to achieve a clean bacteria free root canal system. A plethora of chemical/ herbal products have been introduced in the dental market in the last two decades but none of the agents developed till date can completely eliminate bacteria and its by-products from the root canal system without any cytotoxicity concerns. This paper compares some of the important properties of the contemporary endodontic irrigants and their current status in the field of endodontic irrigation.