According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and many other agencies and health experts, the best way to avoid COVID-19 is simply to ensure proper hand washing with soap and water at all times.Although using good soap and water has been proven to work countless times, how does it work in the first place? Why is it considered better than wipes, gels, creams, disinfectants, antiseptic and alcohol?
There is some quick science behind this.
In theory, washing with water might be effective in cleaning viruses that stick to our hands. Unfortunately, viruses often interact with our skin like glue, making it difficult for them to fall off.Therefore, water alone is not enough, which is why soap is added.
In short, the water added to the soap contains amphiphilic molecules that are lipids, structurally similar to viral lipid membranes. This makes the two substances compete with each other, and this is how the soap itself removes dirt from our hands.In fact, not only does soap loosen the “glue” between our skin and viruses, it kills them by eliminating the other interactions that bind them together.
That’s how soapy water protects you from COVID-19, and that’s why this time you should use soapy water instead of the more commonly used alcohol-based products.
Post time: Jul-28-2020