How any soap kills Coronavirus (after 20 sec !)

Posted by: raptor

How any soap kills Coronavirus (after 20 sec !) - 03/18/20 11:39 PM

I didn't know that any regular soap is that effective against viruses (I always thought you need some special soap). And that washing your hands with water without the soap is apparently not effective at all. Also you should leave your hands covered with the soap at least 20 seconds otherwise the virus might survive.

Source - youtube video "How soap kills the coronavirus":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LKVUarhtvE
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: How any soap kills Coronavirus (after 20 sec !) - 03/19/20 12:55 AM

Good stuff!
Posted by: nursemike

Re: How any soap kills Coronavirus (after 20 sec !) - 03/19/20 01:32 PM

CDC on how everything kills stuff
Posted by: KenK

Re: How any soap kills Coronavirus (after 20 sec !) - 03/19/20 07:53 PM

I've never heard that detergent (what most "soap" is today) actually kills viruses. My understanding is that it encapsulates viruses and then allows water to rinse it off the hands, much as it does with dirt and oils.

I wouldn't put too much faith in a YouTube video. The CDC information is excellent and credible. Be careful sanitizing surfaces with bleach since it can harm surfaces. I found it interesting that alchohol often dries too fast to properly sanitize. Didn't know that.

I've selected to use the quat ammonium-based Clorox wipes and Lysol Disinfectant spray/wipes on surfaces. As I recall, when a kid we used to use tablets with this as a sanitizer for cooking gear at Boy Scout summer camp. Quats are gentler to surfaces. Avoid using the spray directly on wood, electronics, ... You can soak paper towel and wipe it on. Make sure it's wet for at least 3 minutes for the coronavirus. Rinse children's or dog toys well - it is toxic if not dried.

Actually, the details of its toxicity is a bit confusing to me. I know it is toxic as a solution. I hope not when dried, per my childhood camp use.
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: How any soap kills Coronavirus (after 20 sec !) - 03/19/20 09:54 PM

Where the video is posted has no bearing on the credibility of the information. I believe from prior training that the information in the Vox video is accurate. It also conforms to longtime CDC handwashing protocol IIRC.
Posted by: raptor

Re: How any soap kills Coronavirus (after 20 sec !) - 03/20/20 11:58 PM

Originally Posted By: KenK
I wouldn't put too much faith in a YouTube video.

While I agree I should have done more research into this than watching one video and post more sources I think Youtube is now much more valuable medium than it used to be. Among tons of stupid stuff you can actually find lots of good info and even some respected scientists now have YouTube channels (for example Sean Carrol) with podcasts etc.

Originally Posted By: KenK
I've never heard that detergent (what most "soap" is today) actually kills viruses. My understanding is that it encapsulates viruses and then allows water to rinse it off the hands, much as it does with dirt and oils.


From what I read the real soap dissolves the barrier that encapsulates the virus thus killing it. The question of course is what is the definition of "real soap".

Here are more sources:

Professor Karen Fleming (JHU): hand washing is important, because the soap breaks down the fat or outer lipid membrane that surrounds the virus, killing it.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Coronavirus/comments/fbj0pu/professor_karen_fleming_jhu_hand_washing_is/

Why soap is preferable to bleach in the fight against coronavirus
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/scien...st-coronavirus/

Deadly viruses are no match for plain, old soap — here’s the science behind it
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/deadly...d-it-2020-03-08