• gibmiser@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    30
    ·
    10 months ago

    Additionally, my understanding is that a lot of the cleaning done by washing your hands is mechanical, and using a paper towel with a slightly rough and absorbent surface scrapes off all the stuff that has been loosened by washing with soap and water.

    • Lem Jukes@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      16
      ·
      10 months ago

      Outside of antibacterial or germicidal soaps, the cleaning action of washing with soap is 100% mechanical. Soap molecules are asymmetrical and have one side that’s hydrophilic and one side that’s hydrophobic which, when used with water, creates a nifty mechanism that picks up crap on one side and catches a ride on the water molecules with the other side.

      • oce 🐆@jlai.lu
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        8
        ·
        10 months ago

        Isn’t basic soap also destroying the lipidic membrane of most bacteria? It doesn’t need to be specific antibacterial soap for that.

        • Lem Jukes@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          10 months ago

          Regular soap does also kill bacteria with those hydrophobic sides of its molecules by breaking a bacteria or virus’ lipid membrane. I would argue this still a mechanical process though. Antibacterial soaps use a specific chemical, Triclosan, that binds with enzymes within the bacteria that prevent it from reproducing.