If oil floats on water, why is it that when we wash our hands the oil doesn’t get displaced by the water but sticks to our hands instead?

Question

If oil floats on water, why is it that when we wash our hands the oil doesn’t get displaced by the water but sticks to our hands instead?

In: 20

Answer 1

Its why we were instructed as kids to use soap. Those bubbles arent just there to say you’re clean. Those bubbles are a result of surfactants sticking to oils and lifting dirt, and when you rinse with water your mitts are clean. But sometimes even the surfactants need help, in which case you could use pumiced soap. (Mechanics will know lava soap, or the Go Orange stuff)