• ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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    3 days ago

    Soap does destroy some bacteria, and a not insignificant portion. By destroying those fatty bonds the cellular membranes of many bacteria are destroyed, and many viruses denatured and rendered inert.

    The removal is the primary action though, you are correct. Not all bacteria are destroyed by soap, which is why the leather, scrub, and scrub while rinsing steps are important to hand washing, since that mechanical action is what removes everything.

    https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/why-soap-works/

    • addictedtochaos@lemm.ee
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      3 days ago

      thanks, thats certainly a good read! I wonder though why clinics don’t have soap bars; maybe thats not true, but is it not general knowledge that soap bars spread germs?

      ah, you answered that as well, sorry. thanks!