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5 Compelling Reasons Why Soap is More Effective Than Sanitizer for Covid Protection

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SANITISER MAY NOT BE AS EFFECTIVE AS SOAP TO FIGHT COVID


Using soap and water for at least 20 seconds is recommended by experts as it breaks down the virus more effectively than hand sanitiser. The latter can also lead to health issues if used in excess.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, one thing that's boomed is the sale of hand sanitizers. However, health experts warn that using a sanitizer isn't as effective as washing hands with soap and water, adding that alcohol-based sanitizers can be a backup in case soap and water is not available, but not a replacement for them.
SOAP BREAKS DOWN THE VIRUS BETTER THAN A SANITIZE

Health experts say washing hands is more effective because, at the molecular level, soap breaks things apart. The food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the US states, "There are currently no drugs (including hand sanitizer) approved by FDA to prevent or treat COVID-19, The best way to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the risk of getting sick is by washing hands with plain soap and water, advises the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose, if soap and water aren't available, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using an alcohol-based and sanitizer with at least 60% ethanol."

Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director, and Pediatrician, Apollo Hospitals Group, emphasizes, "Soap and water are effective in getting rid of the SARS COVID virus. Sanitizers come in handy when there's no access to soap and water."

Faheem Younus, MD, Chief of Infectious Diseases, University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, adds, "Soap and water kill and wash away the virus from the skin, and they also clean visible soiling of hands."

DISINFECTANT TUNNELS ARE A BIG NO

Some RWAs and malls have installed disinfectant tunnels. However, after objections were raised. It's no longer mandatory for people to walk through them. Similarly, several TV show sets are using a disinfectant on people.

Arvind Kumar, Chairman, Centre for Chest Surgery, and Director at the Institute of Robotic Surgery at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, shares, "Surface disinfectants, such as sodium hydrochloride, are used in a lot of these tunnels, and it's totally unscientific. The virus is inside your respiratory tract and is expelled when you breathe, talk, sneeze, or cough. So, someone standing in front of you will inhale it directly, and if the virus droplets settle on a surface, they will spread through contact."

"Through disinfectant tunnels, you're trying to sanitize a person's hair, face, skin, clothes, etc, but these aren't the source of infection, Secondly, inhaling these chemicals can cause irritation in the throat and windpipe and induce a cough, which is counterproductive." FDA states, disinfectants shouldn't be used on humans or animals, These are meant for hard, non-porous surfaces."
WHAT TO DO?
 CLEAN THEM RIGHT 
  1. Wash your hands with soap and water, use sanitizers only when soap and water aren't available.
  2. Avoid scented sanitizers.
  3. Use sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol
  4. Do not clean your mask with a sanitizer or disinfectant
  5. Do not eat immediately after sanitizing your hands, You may end up ingesting chemicals.
Whether a disinfectant spray is harmful or not will depend upon the ingredients which are used in it, and hence, it is recommended to not use disinfectant sprays. washing hands, wearing cloth masks, and maintaining social distance is enough. Anita Mathew, consultant physician and infectious disease specialist, Fortis Hospital.

DO NOT CLEAN YOUR MASK WITH A SANITIZERS

Sanitizers contain chemicals, some of which can be toxic, and can get trapped in mask and enter our bloodstream when we breathe, causing nausea and or vomiting, Ashvind Bawa, surgeon and associate professor, DMCH, Ludhiana, says, "Washing a mask in detergent and water is enough to clean it," Experts add that if you indeed sanitize a mask, you can't touch it for at least 48 hours, so washing it is better.

AVOID EXCESSIVE USE OF HAND SANITIZERS
  • They can cause rashes and increase your chances of eczema
  • If inhaled or ingest too often, they can lead to alcohol poisoning
  • Antibacterial ingredients in sanitizers can end up killing good bacteria, decreasing your immunity. 
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