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Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.
Covid
How does anti-bac hand wash protect us against Coronavirus?
TheClitterati · 05/03/2020 09:20
Am I missing something? All the hand cleansers etc attack bacteria. Most don't make any claims they can kill off viruses.
So why all this fuss about anti bac stuff, empty shelves, everyone using anti bac hand gel?
Govt minister on tv yesterday talking about Coronavirus & then using anti-bacterial hand wash as a defence in same sentence. It's nuts isn't it?
RagamuffinCat · 05/03/2020 09:23
Alcohol levels of above 60% in the gel has been shown to kill coronavirus (and other viruses). Not all antibacterial gels will work, just those with a high enough alcohol content.
Seeline · 05/03/2020 09:24
It's hand sanitiser you want - with at least 60% alcohol content. That may include anti bac cleansers but you need to check.
Viruses have an oily coating to help them invade cells. The alcohol removes that (as does hot water and soap) so that they become inactive and can't spread.
sleepingpup · 05/03/2020 09:35
Hand washing with soap and water correctly, is the gold standard defence against Covid 19.
Many many people can't or don't have access to water during their day because of their jobs. Not that hard to think of who that is.
Arrangements could be made with flannels, flasks of water etc but practically that is clearly not always possible.
SO OBVIOUSLY as an interim measure a 60% plus hand sanitiser is an excellent , just in case, compromise, measure.
Not INSTEAD of hand washing!
Sorry OP just don't understand why you don't understand the usefulness of a portable bottle of hand sanitiser gel? @TheClitterati
MamehaSan · 05/03/2020 09:40
@sleepingpup well that was snarky 
the op was questioning why people are being advised to use anti bacterial gel to kill a virus. Which is a fair enough question and one that has been answered by a pp...
sleepingpup · 05/03/2020 09:41
Also speculating that with a disability carrying around extra hand washing supplies, water etc, when on the move could prove doubly difficult.
Hand sanitiser gel to the rescue until it is possible to wash properly with soap and water.
TheQueef · 05/03/2020 09:44
The virus has an oily coating which it uses to enter our bodies.
The alcohol strips this oil away, as does SOAP rendering the virus immobile and unable to gain hold in our system.
It was on channel 4 yesterday I'm not speculating 
ThatLibraryMiss · 05/03/2020 09:46
Anti-bacterial soap is an excellent driver for the evolution of bactericidal-resistant bacteria. The way it works is: people use anti-bac soap and rub their hands briefly. Very susceptible bacteria die but the ones that can resist a bit of anti-bac survive, because they're not in contact with it long enough to be killed. Now we have a colony of bacteria that are more resistant to anti-bac. Repeat many times, and you have bacteria that laugh at the threat of bactericide.
Alcohol-based cleaners, as long as they're at least 60% alcohol, work by destroying the bacteria's lipid layer. Bacteria don't build up a resistance to that. They either die, or they didn't come into contact with alcohol. Alcohol doesn't kill all viruses but it does seem to be effective against corona viruses. If you want some and can't find it in shops, nine parts of isopropyl alcohol (eBay, cheap) with one part water will do the trick. You can use aloe vera gel instead of water if you like. Its purpose is to stop the mixture evaporating as quickly, to give you time to spread it around so it gets to all the potential bacteria-hiding sites. It'll strip the oils from your skin so you may need to lash on hand cream afterwards.
Anti-bac hand wash may kill coronavirus if it contains over 60% alcohol and if you use plenty of it. If it's a liquid soap and you wash your hands properly it'll work, but no better than soap.
TL;DR: don't use anti-bac products unless you're using them properly. Wash your hands properly or use 60 - 90% alcohol products if you can't.
we watched the same thing.sleepingpup · 05/03/2020 09:51
@MamehaSan
Apologies for directness if that was what the OP was asking. But I didn't get that at all.
I repeatedly see on here a kind of snobbery to the folk who are trying to get hand sanitiser. Its the kind of the typical MN "I'm not going with the herd thing".
Apologies OP if you just wanted to know how Bacterial Gel worked and not 'why is there this fuss".
WiseUpJanetWeiss · 05/03/2020 10:29
It’s transmitted by airborne droplets, and it can survive on surfaces for many hours. So can be inhaled directly or transferred by hand to mouths and eyes. Hence the advice about hand washing.
Baaaahhhhh · 05/03/2020 11:01
I've used a 60% alcohol hand sanitiser a couple of times now, and it absolutely kills my hands. Cracks in the skin almost immediately. I will only use if I am desparate and have no alternative. Hand washing the minute you get home with a lovely soapy soap bar is much better for cleaning and the health of your hands. Using lots of hand cream too..... wouldn't be surprised if that is the next thing that goes out of stock!
VadenuRewetje · 05/03/2020 11:05
Soap and water is better than antibac gels.
Corona is an enveloped virus (wrapped in an outer coating) which is destroyed by soap and water.
Watch this video - a computer simulation of how a virus (any virus not just corona) can spread with normal behavior modeled in the map on the left, and the spread if everyone washes their hands with soap 5-10 times a day. It slows the spread down dramatically.
twitter.com/i/status/1234491912775782400
Captaindobbin · 05/03/2020 11:43
Perhaps the pp who was snappy at the op has had to endure frequent smart arse smug comments in real life regarding anti bac gel and it’s a VIRUS don’t you know! When in actual fact the hand gels do kill viruses as long as the alcohol content is high enough.
dementedpixie · 05/03/2020 11:46
Except you can't currently buy the hand gel due to no stock in the shops
TheClitterati · 05/03/2020 12:08
As hand gel and anti-bac wash are effective in killing viruses (thanks to all who clarified that as I've not seen that info elsewhere), why doesn't it say so on the label? It's not like products to miss a marketing opportunity.
Only hand stuff I've see say it kills viruses was the (out of stock) Dettol.
I'll check my hand sanatiser is over 60% alcohol level. We do use it when out & about so I have some already.
dementedpixie · 05/03/2020 12:11
You dont even need anti bac hand wash. Any liquid or bar soap will work
TheClitterati · 05/03/2020 12:25
We use bar soap at home. Hand gel when out. So no need to change anything beyond a more thorough soaping period
Throughthegate · 05/03/2020 13:04
When there's no more soap or liquid soap to buy, will shampoo do the job? (I always seem to have far more shampoo than soap!)
Lunafortheloveogod · 05/03/2020 13:11
If it’s for breaking down an oily coating any soaps soap.. dish soaps probably better than shampoo since it’s meant to break down grease and less likely to contain oils and harsher than shampoo.
Most sanitizer I’ve found about the house is over 60% Superdrug’s own, dettol, Cheapo stuff from peacocks etc have all been 62 or higher. Only the kids alcohol free foam one has so far been obviously not strong enough.
WiseUpJanetWeiss · 05/03/2020 13:34
As hand gel and anti-bac wash are effective in killing viruses (thanks to all who clarified that as I've not seen that info elsewhere), why doesn't it say so on the label? It's not like products to miss a marketing opportunity
Not all viruses. Alcohol doesn’t work very well on norovirus, for example.
Antibacterial hand wash does not contain alcohol. It’s effective against viruses in the same way that all hand wash is effective, because the soap/detergent disrupts the virus envelope. Some viruses are more resistant than others but fortunately this one is susceptible. Hand washing is also effective because it
A) removes dirt under which nasties can live, untroubled by hand gel (I already have shortish nails, but they are even shorter now...)
B) physically removes microorganisms so they can’t get into your body.
WiseUpJanetWeiss · 05/03/2020 13:39
When there's no more soap or liquid soap to buy, will shampoo do the job?
Yes - any detergent or soap will do.
endofthelinefinally · 05/03/2020 13:43
I am immunosuppressed and always carry hand gel, just to cut down on the number of germs I might pick up if using public transport and so on.
I figure that if I pick up one infection I will be more vulnerable to others.
I can't stay under house arrest forever, I need to have a life.
I am very fed up that it is so difficult to get atm.
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