AS the coronavirus outbreak causes panic, many are turning to hand sanitisers and disinfectants to clean their hands, but experts say that simple soap and water is even more effective in the fight against germs.
The Northglen News contacted the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) to chat with an expert about the science behind soap.
Soap’s unique formulation allows it to break down oils, making it effective against germs which are attracted to oils on the skin, said Dr Saajida Mahomed, a Public Health Medicine Specialist and member of the UKZN Covid-19 War Room team.
“Soap is made from fats or oils with an alkali and water. The molecules in soap are both hydrophilic (attracted to water) and hydrophobic (repelled by water and attracted by fats). Germs stick to the oils that are on our hands. Soap is able to bind with the germs on your hands and carry these germs off your hands with water,” he said.
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This is significant in the fight against the deadly coronavirus because the virus is coated in a lipid-based substance.
“Hand washing with soap and water is recommended as it is effective in disrupting and removing the virus. The virus has an envelope that is protein and lipid based, and soap is able to penetrate or dissolve this layer. The virus particles are then washed away as we rinse the soap off our hands,” said Mahomed.
Using soap for at least 20 seconds and making sure all surfaces of the hands are washed thoroughly is important to ensure it is effective, said Mahomed.
“It takes time to get the soap into all the spaces and folds on the hands such as between our fingers, on finger tips, under nails as well as the back of the hands. These are often areas that we neglect or forget about when washing hands. The ideal length of time is based on many factors including how dirty one’s hands are,” he said.
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Hand sanitiser must have an alcohol content of at least 60 per cent to be effective.
“If used correctly, and a sufficient amount of at least 3 to 5 mls, it can destroy the virus. Methylated spirits is more than 99 per cent alcohol – this will be harmful to the skin. Hand washing with soap and water is recommended as the first option, especially as it is effective in cleaning the hands of dirt as well as destroying and removing the virus,” said Mahomed.
Hand sanitiser is recommended in the absence of soap and water.
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