this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2024
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[–] Lemjukes@lemm.ee 16 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Outside of antibacterial or germicidal soaps, the cleaning action of washing with soap is 100% mechanical. Soap molecules are asymmetrical and have one side that’s hydrophilic and one side that’s hydrophobic which, when used with water, creates a nifty mechanism that picks up crap on one side and catches a ride on the water molecules with the other side.

[–] oce@jlai.lu 8 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Isn't basic soap also destroying the lipidic membrane of most bacteria? It doesn't need to be specific antibacterial soap for that.

[–] Lemjukes@lemm.ee 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Regular soap does also kill bacteria with those hydrophobic sides of its molecules by breaking a bacteria or virus’ lipid membrane. I would argue this still a mechanical process though. Antibacterial soaps use a specific chemical, Triclosan, that binds with enzymes within the bacteria that prevent it from reproducing.