To say... it's a fucking VIRUS

[ArtisanBreadBin]

The number of posts on here about how the NHS have recommended "antibac" no they haven't. I wipe it with "antibac" why would you. I can't find any "antibac" handwash, you don't fucking need it.

AIBU to hope that people can learn the difference between a fucking virus and a bacteria. If it was a bacteria it would be called CORONA fucking BACTERIA!!!!

In any case "antibac" is a waste of time and money, use soap and water. FML.

I know what kills what, I have a biochemistry degree although I don't work in the field now. I just can't understand how people don't realise it's a virus even though it's in the name.

People say antibacterial meaning antivirals too. My Dettox wipes also kill 99% of viruses. Any soap will break the virus down so when I wipe my trolley handle with Dettox wipes it foams and does the job so bore off! This thread title has been brought up several times already.

know what kills what, I have a biochemistry degree

So have I.

So you'll know that 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol is effective

And that certain anti-bacterials can kill the virus by making it inactive as well

All antibac surface cleansers will contain surfactants (soap).

Nothing to get wound up about here, unless you just want to show off your knowledge of microbiological distinctions at the expense of looking less knowledgeable about chemistry.

Lots of people also use ‘antibac’ as a shorthand for ‘disinfect’.

Lots of people might use rice as a shorthand for pasta, it would still be wrong.

It's not like it's hard or unimportant to understand that Coronavirus is a virus.

A scientist was on the radio saying any wipe will do including baby wipes so I reckon antibacterial wipes will too. It’s not so easy to carry soap or bleach when out and about is it?

Yes, when shouty capital letter people went all gobby on MN early on in the Covid crisis about antibac stuff, I asked my friend who works in the hospital and currently seconded to testing Covid samples and she said "why on earth would people NOT be using antibac products when most of them are formulated with enough alcohol content to kill viruses as well"

I had been a bit sniffy and smug too, OP, up to the point an actual expert put me right.

I think you’re getting confused with antibiotics?

Yes! You are obviously correct. This drives me mad.

A bacterium, bacteria is plural. Also, I marvel more at the stupidity of stockpiling hand wash and dettol, when there are dozens of other less obvious products still available that do the same job just as well

Made with alcohol, the NHS, Public Health England and other health organisations worldwide have assured people that hand sanitisers with 60% alcohol content and above are effective against viruses, such as the new coronavirus, but emphasise soap and water is the best option.

If something can kill bacteria and viruses, what would you like the product to be called that can do that?

when there are dozens of other less obvious products still available that do the same job just as well

I got some Poundland soap a while ago.

I use bar soap at home to wash hands and normal kitchen spray but Dettox wipes out and about on my car steering wheel after supermarkets visits etc. as it’s convenient and antiviral although it is marketed as an antibacterial product.

I rather doubt that Breadbin is muddling up antibacterial cleaning products and antibiotics, @Skinnyjeansandaloosetop

I have continued to use good old soap and water to wash my hands since Covid appeared. No illness in my household yet.

why on earth would people NOT be using antibac products when most of them are formulated with enough alcohol content to kill viruses as well

I've lab tested quite a few major brands of cleaning solution. Often the 'antibacterial' ones are the worst against bacteria, let alone viruses. Before this outbreak a lot of handwashes were not 70% alcohol and, even if they are, you need a very thorough coating and to let them dry.

I think using the wrong term is potentially a problem and OP is right to highlight it.

Soap and water is the best thing; handwash if it's unavailable. Don't put detail anywhere near you hands or food.

Yes, soap and water. The obsession on here with "antibac" is bizarre. Soap and water is enough to get rid of almost all common or garden bacteria, viruses or fungal spores.

"Antibac" is a marketing scam designed to prey on anxious people.

And no, thanks. I know the difference between an antibiotic and an overpriced "kills 99.9% of all bacteria" aerosol generating spray that people are fond of.

I didn’t mean confusing medicine with hand wash, but rather the principal that antibiotics don’t work on viruses and conferring that to anti-bac handwash

@Looneytune253

Your Dettol may well kill some types of Coronavirus (the common cold is a Coronavirus after all) but it sure as Hell won't make any difference against the COVID:19 strain.

So I'll be fine to drink a bottle of rat poison then? Seeing as I'm not a rat?

So you take a bar of soap out to wash your supermarket trolley op?

Lol at 'anti-bac is a waste of time and money' - as long as it's 60% alcohol anti-bac kills viruses as well as bacteria and anti-bac handwashes contain soap, which is what is needed to degrade the virus shell anyway. Not entirely sure how that makes it a waste of time and money....! Agree good old soap and water is just as good but if people are using anti-bac they're getting exactly the same deal.

Although I'm just reading the link provided by chomalungma

So I may well be wrong

Before this outbreak a lot of handwashes were not 70% alcohol and, even if they are, you need a very thorough coating and to let them dry

TBF - the CDC and the NHS recommend using a hand sanitiser containing 60% ethanol or more if there is no soap and water.

I haven't seen anyone recommend using anti-bacterial - and of course, bacteria and virus are different.

It would be interesting to see the effectiveness of anti-bacterial cleaners against viruses

Both the virologist on BBC, I forget his name and Dr Sarah Jarvis said disinfectant kills covid 19. Dettol is a disinfectant.