4 ms·

I don't get it - is normal soap ineffective?

bluetidepro 7y ago
I believe it's fine, I think hand sanitizer is just better because it's "on-the-go" for a lot of people. You don't need water to use, like with soap.
yoz-y 7y ago
It is but people don't know/believe that.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
hprotagonist 7y ago
Soap is generally superior and more versatile. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-san...
illumanaughty 7y ago
It's actually more effective. The virus is essentially protected by fat, which is easily broken down by soap. In fact it's what soap is best at. Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer isn't the best approach for.. well, a virus.
- cycrutchfield 7y ago
  Most hand sanitizers are like 60-70% alcohol. That should kill viruses as well.
  - illumanaughty 7y ago
    Yes, fair. But that doesn't make it more effective vs. simply washing your hands with warm water & soap.
stetrain 7y ago
The benefit is you can place hand sanitizer in a lot more locations. Near doors, desks, entrances/exits, conference rooms, etc. A thorough wash with soap and water is better, but harder to distribute around an office building, hotel, conference center, etc.
- zepearl 7y ago
  Didn't think about this - thx
coconut_crab 7y ago
I have read that normal soap (or any kinds of detergents) is more effective than hand sanitizer in killing corona virus. The reason is that corona virus is enveloped in a lipid coating and the soap 'pops' it like a ballon, destroying the virus. So just washing your hand is enough.
JulianMorrison 7y ago
Hand sanitizer needs to be very strong, I recall seeing 70% alcohol, and it needs to be left "wet" for minutes rather than being applied in small enough amounts it dries right away. Alcohol can disrupt the virus's lipid membrane. Soap is simpler and faster, if you can use it.
sp332 7y ago
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5116.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5116.pdf p. 11 "Alcohol-based solutions were more effective than washing hands with plain soap in all studies, and they reduced bacterial counts on the hands more than antimicrobial soaps or detergents in the majority of experiments" https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/science/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/science/index.html An alcohol-based hand sanitizer is the preferred method for cleaning your hands when they are not visibly dirty because it: -Is more effective at killing potentially deadly germs on hands than soap -Is easier to use during the course of care, especially when moving from soiled to clean activities with the same patient or resident & when moving between patients or residents in shared rooms or common areas -Improves skin condition with less irritation and dryness than soap and water
- ac29 7y ago
  That is an interesting study, thanks for the link. You missed a couple relevant bits though: "Certain enveloped (lipophilic) viruses (e.g., herpes sim-plex virus, human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], influenzavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and vaccinia virus) are susceptible to alcohols when tested in vitro" Covid-19 is an enveloped virus, not a bacteria. Unfortunately relative efficacy compared to soap and water for these types of viruses doesn't appear to be discussed. and "Applying small volumes (i.e., 0.2–0.5 mL) of alcohol to the hands is not more effective than washing hands with plain soap and water (63,64). One study documented that 1 mL of alcohol was substantially less effective than 3 mL (91). The ideal volume of product to apply to the hands is not known and may vary for different formulations. However, if hands feel dry after rubbing hands together for 10–15 seconds, an insufficient volume of product likely was applied." More or less saying that technique matters here, and a quick squirt of hand sanitizer may not do much. That being said, hand washing technique matters too: commonly poorly washed areas include between fingers, finger tips, under fingernails, and the thumb.

I believe it's fine, I think hand sanitizer is just better because it's "on-the-go" for a lot of people. You don't need water to use, like with soap.

yoz-y 7y ago

It is but people don't know/believe that.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

hprotagonist 7y ago

Soap is generally superior and more versatile. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-san...

illumanaughty 7y ago

It's actually more effective. The virus is essentially protected by fat, which is easily broken down by soap. In fact it's what soap is best at. Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer isn't the best approach for.. well, a virus.

cycrutchfield 7y ago
Most hand sanitizers are like 60-70% alcohol. That should kill viruses as well.
- illumanaughty 7y ago
  Yes, fair. But that doesn't make it more effective vs. simply washing your hands with warm water & soap.

stetrain 7y ago

The benefit is you can place hand sanitizer in a lot more locations. Near doors, desks, entrances/exits, conference rooms, etc. A thorough wash with soap and water is better, but harder to distribute around an office building, hotel, conference center, etc.

zepearl 7y ago
Didn't think about this - thx

coconut_crab 7y ago

I have read that normal soap (or any kinds of detergents) is more effective than hand sanitizer in killing corona virus. The reason is that corona virus is enveloped in a lipid coating and the soap 'pops' it like a ballon, destroying the virus. So just washing your hand is enough.

JulianMorrison 7y ago

Hand sanitizer needs to be very strong, I recall seeing 70% alcohol, and it needs to be left "wet" for minutes rather than being applied in small enough amounts it dries right away. Alcohol can disrupt the virus's lipid membrane. Soap is simpler and faster, if you can use it.

sp332 7y ago

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5116.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5116.pdf p. 11 "Alcohol-based solutions were more effective than washing hands with plain soap in all studies, and they reduced bacterial counts on the hands more than antimicrobial soaps or detergents in the majority of experiments" https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/science/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/science/index.html An alcohol-based hand sanitizer is the preferred method for cleaning your hands when they are not visibly dirty because it: -Is more effective at killing potentially deadly germs on hands than soap -Is easier to use during the course of care, especially when moving from soiled to clean activities with the same patient or resident & when moving between patients or residents in shared rooms or common areas -Improves skin condition with less irritation and dryness than soap and water

ac29 7y ago
That is an interesting study, thanks for the link. You missed a couple relevant bits though: "Certain enveloped (lipophilic) viruses (e.g., herpes sim-plex virus, human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], influenzavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and vaccinia virus) are susceptible to alcohols when tested in vitro" Covid-19 is an enveloped virus, not a bacteria. Unfortunately relative efficacy compared to soap and water for these types of viruses doesn't appear to be discussed. and "Applying small volumes (i.e., 0.2–0.5 mL) of alcohol to the hands is not more effective than washing hands with plain soap and water (63,64). One study documented that 1 mL of alcohol was substantially less effective than 3 mL (91). The ideal volume of product to apply to the hands is not known and may vary for different formulations. However, if hands feel dry after rubbing hands together for 10–15 seconds, an insufficient volume of product likely was applied." More or less saying that technique matters here, and a quick squirt of hand sanitizer may not do much. That being said, hand washing technique matters too: commonly poorly washed areas include between fingers, finger tips, under fingernails, and the thumb.