How Dirty Is Soap?
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- Опубликовано: 20 авг 2024
- It’s good hygiene to wash your hands after touching shared bathroom surfaces. But bars of soap are a shared surface. Does soap really help get you clean?
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It’s good hygiene to wash your hands after using the restroom, and after touching kinda gross stuff like raw meat, snakes, cat litter, cats, biomedical waste, and any number of shared surfaces from doorknobs to countertops. But what about soap? Bars of soap are also shared surfaces. So how dirty is soap?
Organism for organism, microbes outnumber humans on the planet at least 131-quintillion-to-one. Cell for cell, the microbes in and on our bodies outnumber us ten-to-one.
And human hands can have up to 100,000 microorganisms per square centimeter of skin. Most of ‘em are harmless or even helpful, but yeah, there’s a lot of them. And some of them get transferred to your soap.
One study from 1984 reported that of the bar soaps they tested, 92-to-96% cultured positive for microorganisms. The antibacterial soap they tested actually had a bit more microbial activity than the regular soap.
The soaps in question were in use by the staff of clinics and laboratories over the course of 7 days, and samples were taken on 5 of those days.
But the interesting (and comforting) part of their results is that the microbes didn’t build_over the course of that week. Organisms would appear and disappear with each sample taken, indicating one of two things.
Either the soaps were somehow self-sterilizing, possibly due to preservatives they contain that are un-delicious or downright dastardly to microbes.
Or the little buggers were being mechanically removed during the process of washing. Meaning that as you wash your hands, you’re also washing your soap.
These results back up a couple of other studies about microbes and handwashing, one from 1965 and one from 1988. Both of these studies found that although bacteria remained on the soaps, none transferred to the participants’ hands.
Now, a thing to note: These studies were done by employees of Proctor & Gamble and Dial Corporation, respectively. And the first study I mentioned, from ’84? Was completed with a grant from Minnetonka, Inc., which was the original maker of Softsoap. That doesn’t necessarily mean their sciences were bad, though. Experts say there’s no evidence to contradict their results.
So bar soap is not un-dirty, but still safe to use, and way better than not washing.
A few pro tips: Be sure to dry your hands thoroughly after washing. Don’t wash more often than necessary! That can lead to parched skin, which can crack, which can let in microbes you otherwise would’ve been able to just wash off. And make sure you store bar soap in a dish that lets it drain and dry out between uses. That’ll cut down on any potential bacterial growth.
SOURCES:
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www.ncbi.nlm.ni...
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I can now sleep in peace. My school had soaps instead of hand wash gel. I was correct 5 years ago after looking at this video
It was nearly 5 years ago you commented that you were correct 5 years ago
That’s almost 5 years ago
No matter who sponsered the study, it only makes sense that microbes don't build up on bar soap: after all, each time you use it, you're effectively stripping away a layer of the surface of the thing. So as long as the little buggers don't burrow down into it, you're effectively washing away the microbes along with a layer of the soap -- and of course depositing a new layer, which the next user will likewise wash away.
That *may* mean you could potentially spread germs person to person through soap, but maybe not too; You are, after all, washing your hands, then rinsing them, so presumably dislodging moderate amounts of microbes in the process. I have no idea how science would confirm or deny tranmission in this manner, but I would think unless an actual study proved otherwise, there's very likely nothing to really be worried about. Unless you're sharing soap with a plague carrier or something, it can't be any less healthy that avoiding washing entirely. (And if you are, soap is probably not the primary point of concern).
Have they done one on towels yet? Me and my ex boyfriend argued about the cleanliness of towels after showers.
Great, now my OCD is 100 times worse!
..... Look up how to forget things..... Maybe look up how to get high without drugs videos? It'll distract you.
IKR send help
"think of the last place i washed and the first place you wash"
-Joey Tribbiani
Bow chicka bow wow wow.
+Quin Skew who are you
Tucker! I'm a bad mother shut you're mouth. Bow chicka bow wow wow.
+Quin Skew A friends reference, and a Red vs Blue reference in one comment thread. My life is complete.
Howdy folks. I'm Batman! No parents!
I wash my soap before washing my hands.
Wtf you still have to touch it tho
Dumb
just wash d soap first bfore washing ur hands..
This was a great topic, and one I've been curious about for years but never thought to look up. I found the Brain Stuff videos because of Fw:Thinking, which I listen to on my way to work. You guys deserve more views though!
I enjoyed the host for this episode. She was succinct, had soothing sounding speech patterns, and a clear cut at the end of her sentences.
Wow I never knew soap was dirty but I actually didn’t found this video I searched it up because there was a video saying that soap is actually make you dirtier but this video is still good for me
WAIT WAIT WAIT IM IM 2023 SOON AFTER LIKE 18 days or SMALLER ITS GONNA BE 2024 and this video was 8 years ago soon it’s gonna be 9 years ago 😅😅😅😅
Great video! The Magic Soap Dish prevents bacterial growth, by always holding your bar soap in the air and allowing it to completely drip dry between uses, so there is no moist environment for bacteria to live in. Promotes clean, healthy living. Bar soap also lasts 20% longer!
I was doing some thinking when picking up the sponge in my shower, it's often still got soap in it so the only bacteria that would chill there must be the hardier (more dangerous?) microbes.
+Drugs Bunny As long as the sponge dries out between showers, it's probably pretty clean.
"Soap is self-cleaning"
I would hope so. If it wasn't, that would raise questions.
i never thought about germs being on soap.would love to see a boomerang segment.
+asian ddison Yeah! I'll add that to our list. :)
Anyone see those automatic soap dispensers just put your hand underneath and it automatically comes out and they say so you do not touch the dirty dispenser BEFORE YOU ARE GOING TO WASH YOUR HANDS ANYWAY
I have one of those and it's a gimmick, yeah it works, but you still have to touch the sink handle itself, so you still touch germs either way
And yeah you're right, you wash it off anyway
+AntRocks42 not if you do it with a paper towel
Well in hospitals bar soap is not the best choice, Also most people use soap & then throws it back which is where most of the stuff comes from, back in the day it was just mostly animal fat. However i always never use the soap directly on my body, & after i rinse it off, also before use i rinse it off taking off a small part of the top layer. So i assume the bars of soap they used in the tests were done lazily & by people in more contact with more bacteria than most people.
Good word, I’ve been waiting for this my whole life
Should I put my bar of soap in the washing machine and wash it with laundry soap? Surely that would clean my bar of soap. Now, how to clean my laundry soap, and there's the dish soap! AHHH! xD!
So what's best bar soup or liquid soup?
+super8mmo As long as your liquid soap is non-refillable and comes in a sealed container, it's about as clean as bar soap. Refillable soap containers can harbor a lot of microbes. /Lauren
+BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks Great so now I have to buy more plastic and hurt the the environment more in order to have a cleaner soap container? :(
@@BrainStuffShow Can you refer some research about this that liquid non-refillable soaps are not better or worse than bar soaps ? Thanksss
@@BatmanFanGirl true, Dettol advertises in India that liquid soaps are better than bar soaps because bar soaps carry germs and microbes.. and they have made this "fact" a USP for their soaps..
@@BatmanFanGirl But it's the same as bar soap
What about liquid soap?
Can you do a video on why people get scared, and what happens when we get scared?
Makes me look at the movie "The Fly" in a whole new light...
Do you have any proof for "way better than not washing"?.
i got a dove commercial after tapping this video
What About Blowing Bubbles
Great information in a concise video, thanks :)
Just wash the soap under running water before using it . Duh!
What if u use soap to d extent it becomes a part of ur body specially clearly visible on ur hands n feet etc?!
soap is not dirty b ut when i washed my hands the soap was black
Now everyone loves soap cause of covid19
What about washing your Fish aquarium should I be wearing gloves for that? ...
+mymovievideos Only if you have a cut on your hands, or if your skin is dry and you're worried that it might chap/crack. When your skin is healthy, it's REALLY good at keeping bad stuff out! /Lauren
Thank you.
+Ammar Dhubaiki You're welcome! /Lauren
Idc that this is 8 years old 👎 for the cat slander
As a germophobe ,this wasn't a good idea for me to watch this video 😡😡😡😡
Why thoroughly dry hands after washing?
wet hands will make it easier for bacteria to grow than dry hands. bacteria like moisture
*****
I truly believe that there is way too much paranoia about germs. I have for years worked in the garden, with worms castings, compost and all sorts of supposedly "dirty" things. I never wear gloves and usually only wash my hands with collected rain water and no soap. I then dry them with a quick shake and a couple of wipes on my pants or shirt. I only use soap and hot water if I'm in the kitchen.
I hardly ever get sick with colds or flu.
+Steve Smith What +BeeRich33 said. Your skin is terrific at keeping microbes out, so getting your hands dirty in the garden is no big. Pathogens are more likely to come from other humans, and to get in through mucus membranes, like in the eyes, mouth, and nose -- and that's why it's generally considered good to wash your hands before you eat (or pick your nose :P), especially if you've been touching shared public surfaces.
But as long as you're in good health (aka, your immune system isn't compromised and you're at low risk for having serious complications from a common cold or flu), germs aren't something you need to worry about all that much. Our immune systems 'learn' by being exposed to new microbes. And stuff like antibacterial soap absolutely does more harm than good on a societal level. Just don't lick too many doorknobs, and you'll probably be all right. /Lauren
+BeeRich33 I know, right?? It takes daily affirmations, meditation, and pinboarding to train oneself out of doorknob licking. Good luck, gentle viewers. /L
I always wash my soap before I use it. Idk why...
+mymovievideos If you wash your soap with soap, what about the soap you washed the soap with? Wouldn't you need to wash that???
Who is watching this in 2020 during Covid 19 crisis
is it just me or did the video end kinda abruptly...
Never buying bar soap again! Let's Goooo!!
P
No soaps are just so good
So I should wash my hands after touching a door knob? That would be very impractical now wouldn't it?
+Matthew Mitchell Simple. Make doorknobs out of soap.
+Matthew Mitchell Every time? Only if your immune system isn't doing that great, and/or if you're about to prepare food, eat, touch your eyeballs, or pick your nose. Didn't mean to imply that most people need to wash their hands every time they touch a shared surface.
cats?
W A I T
One dislike?
+Terence Brown The proverbial hater is gonna proverbially hate.
WHY TO DRY HANDS AFTER WASHING HANDS?
SORRY CAPS
+GoldenCH Err, with a hanky or towel? Or even the heated air dryers? Bacteria thrive in warm and moist environments
Liquid soap FTW
Ok thanks, I dropped my soap in the toilet.
👍
Cats are self-cleansing.
First to thumbs up and comment. whoo! Hahahaha
How tf soap🧼 is dirty lol she just wanna make a random video...
why do women always tilt their head when talking, specially in front of a camera? very annoying.
+AnnoyingOnion There's actually been a lot written about head tilting during speech/listening, and the conscious, subconscious, and potentially innate social cues that it sends. In speakers, some theorists say that it's a cue signaling anxiety and submission; some say it's a power move that incites sympathy from the listener. Thanks so much for watching -- and commenting! /Lauren
+BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks That's quite interesting! Maybe make a video to further explain this?
Just use a dispenser 🧴