How does soap kill germs?

Soap kills germs through a combination of its chemical structure and physical action. It contains molecules with hydrophilic (water-attracting) heads and hydrophobic (water-repelling) tails. When you wash your hands, the hydrophobic tails latch onto dirt, oils and germs—like bacteria and viruses—disrupting their outer membranes or coatings.

For enveloped viruses (e.g., coronaviruses), soap breaks down the lipid (fatty) envelope, rendering them inactive. The hydrophilic heads then bind to water, allowing the loosened debris and dead germs to be rinsed away. This process, aided by scrubbing, effectively removes and destroys a wide range of pathogens, making soap a simple yet powerful tool for hygiene.

It is important to always encourage proper hand washing to help limit the spread of germs and to help ensure that germs do not spread.

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