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

For the most part, they don’t. They make things slippery so that all of the microbes and stuff that can harbor microbes can be washed away. Warmer water tends to be more effective.