Published: 16/03/2020 By The Abode Team
We all know that washing our hands is important; chances are you had this fact drummed into you as a child along with saying please and thank you. We also know that washing our hands involves more than just waggling our fingers vaguely in the direction of a running tap. It’s not even as if it’s an unpleasant thing to do. The water is generally warm, the soap smells nice and there are bubbles involved. Frankly, what’s not to like?However, people do neglect this vital and necessary action. You’ve seen it, we’ve seen it.
With the onset of the coronavirus we are being told that washing our hands with soap and water more frequently and rigorously than ever is vital, but why? How does that help to protect us?
One of our clients who makes her own soap and is a self-confessed ‘soap nerd’ found the science behind this advice both interesting and reassuring.
Apparently, and to explain it in simple terms, the virus is contained in a sort of lipid bubble. Lipids are basically fat and the function of soap is to cut through fat and grease. Once the soap breaks the protective lipid bubble the virus bits immediately “die” as they cannot survive outside of it. The scrubbing dislodges it and the rinsing puts it harmlessly down the drain.
So, along with all of the other precautions, let’s keep washing our hands.