Hand gels are anti bacterial, not antiviral. What am I missing?

[Poetf]

It just occurred to me, why do we have to antibac our hands everywhere we go, when the gels are not anti viral, so presumably useless against the virus?

Anti viral foam isn't as effective on covid as alcohol based products

www.which.co.uk/news/2020/04/hand-hygiene-soap-and-sanitiser-gel-what-you-need-to-know/

(my comment was in response to @Slightlybrwnbanana)

Frankly, I'd really hope that someone with the intellectual wherewithal to obtain a PhD in anything would think twice before posting misinformation like this on a public forum. A simple google, etc etc ...

OP, were you under a stone when all the to-and-fro about hand gels was happening, back when they were virtually unobtainable in March/April? This has been done to fucking death.

Experts (who presumably DO have PhDs in areas adjacent to virology or public health, etc) have long since been saying that a) hand gels with more than 70% alcohol DO kill the virus if used correctly and b) hand washing with soap and hand-hot water is still thought to be better if done properly and for long enough. A virologist I follow has stated this at roughly fortnightly intervals.

As I understand it, the fats in soap break down the fats on the capsule of this virus, rendering it inactive. Hand gels with the requisite amount of alcohol are a second-best, but adequate solution.

(I also have a PhD but don't bang it out when trying to back up specious claims I make on public fora. Actually, I try really hard not to make claims like that.)

I was shocked to find out at the beginning of all this that soap and cold water is effective against coronaviruses. So don't despair if your only water supply is cold.

I should have said running cold water.

"Bless" - childishly patronising

Advance searching someone when they use the word - downright weird

Even my dog knows about alcohol in hand gel killing the virus.

In fact, I think even my pot plants are aware by now.

@henrykissingher

bit weird to advance search posters OP

You must be new to Mumsnet

Bit weird to advance search posters but not be able to google how hand gels work......

Is Google broken today OP?

’Is Google broken today OP?‘

Apparently.

I was shocked to find out at the beginning of all this that soap and cold water is effective against coronaviruses. So don't despair if your only water supply is cold

Yep. The reason they recommend warm water is, you are more likely to wash your hands properly if the water is warm. 20 seconds under cold water can be tough to do.

My DF's business is now manufacturing hand sanitiser and cleaning products designed to kill coronavirus. There is a laboratory in Bury with samples of cat coronavirus and if the products successfully destroy them then they are allowed to say on the label that they kill coronavirus.

nope, it was weird 9 years ago too

I had a lovely debate back in March about this.

It then went on to the fact that people buy anti-bacterial soaps which cost extra...and don't really add much extra

And also anti-bacterial washing powder......

So you have the time to advance search posters (and admit to it!) but don’t have the time or inclination to google how antibacterial gels work...

To those suggesting that the higher the concentration of alcohol the better - this isn't necessarily true over a certain percentage. Alcohol is volatile and evaporates very quickly. The 30% water/other ingredients in a 70% alcohol solution (for example) allows the alcohol to linger longer on a surface - in effect diluting the alcohol a little gives it more time to work.

@RozHuntleysStump

In fact, I think even my pot plants are aware by now.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Just the sort of thing one needs to read on a Friday night after a L O N G week!!

Blimey - anyone would think op had posted in AIBU?