Good old soap is actually one of the most powerful weapons in the fight against viruses.

Washing your hands: Soap makes viruses inactive - The most important thing to start with: Washing your hands is now more important than ever. You should definitely use soap, as it has the property of dissolving the fatty membrane of viruses and thus making them inactive.

Washing hands in times of coronavirus

Washing your hands has always been part of everyday hygiene. But especially in times of coronavirus, we should pay more attention to the matter. Instructions on how to properly wash your hands have been available in companies and schools for weeks. Experts recommend: It is best to use soap.

Why is soap so effective?

Vegetable or animal fats in the soap are converted into alkaline salts of fatty acids by adding lye. This washing substance can dissolve the fatty membrane of viruses - yes, including Sars-CoV-2.

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However, it is important to wash your hands particularly thoroughly. Rough spots and wrinkles must be completely cleaned, so it is important to soap your hands for at least 30 seconds and also wash the spaces between your fingers thoroughly. Pay particular attention to the fingertips and thumbs, as this is where most germs reside.

The use of disposable towels is recommended in public washrooms. Germs are carried into the air by hand dryers and can settle back on surfaces.

Alternatives to soap

In addition to soap, there are numerous antibacterial agents available to buy: wipes, gels, liquids. Although they all have a similar effect, they cannot influence the structures of viruses and therefore do not have the same good effect as soap.

According to the Chamber of Pharmacists, disinfectants should be reserved for staff in hospitals, nursing homes or other medical institutions. If you use disinfectants frequently, this leads to dry and therefore irritated skin.

Tips from a professional

Biologist Karen Fleming from Johns Hopkins University provides explanations and additional tips on proper handwashing on Twitter.

“It sounds obvious, but soap is truly an amazing weapon that we all have in our homes. I've been told that singing 'Happy Birthday' twice is about as long as we should all scrub our hands. Also, imagine how much we'll all laugh when we sing 'Happy Birthday' in the toilet while we kill this beast!” explains and motivates Karen Fleming.

Source: Wiener Zeitung
Article image: Bogdan Sonjachnyj / Shutterstock


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