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

Soap and water work by loosening and removing dirt, oil, and microbes through physical and chemical processes. Soap breaks down the protective lipid membranes of microbes, deactivating them. Mechanical scrubbing and rinsing then help wash everything away.