Eli5: How do soap and water actually kill microbes?

Question

I broadly understand how alcohol-based sanitizers work, but how do simple soap and water do so? Also, how important is the temperature of the water?

In: 5

Answer 1

Soaps that aren’t antibacterial soaps don’t. They just wash it down the sink. Studies have shown that soap and antibacterial soap are equally effective at cleaning your hands.