When you touch something that has a strong smell (like poo or when you break a perfume bottle), the smell tends to stay on your hand even after you washed your hands, sometimes even after you take a long shower. Why is that? Does that mean you are not completely clean since the smell is still there?
In: Biology
Soap works to clean your skin because the molecules of soap are shaped in a way that one side is attracted to oils, and the other end is attracted to water. That makes it possible for the molecules to connect together in a “chain” so that the oils come away from your hands or body and go down the drain with the water.
Some certain types of molecules you might want to remove are not attracted to the end of the soap molecule that usually helps you wash away most oil and dirt.
You may not want to hear it, but “completely clean” is relative, and that’s okay. There are oils and other particles on the surface on your skin that SHOULD stay there, and cleaners strong enough to remove EVERYTHING can damage your skin and cause sores.
The lingering odor means that there are some remaining particles of the odor-causing thing that can still be removed. As others have mentioned, baking soda, warmer water, and even other types of oil can help remove some of the remaining particles causing the odor.
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