Style Theory: Your Soap WON'T Get You Clean?!

Summary

In this episode of *Theories*, the hosts conduct an experiment to test the effectiveness of soap in cleaning. After swabbing their legs post-cleaning, they’re shocked to find that soap actually left behind more bacteria than clean water. They explore why this might be, looking at the ingredients in different soaps, especially Dove. The hosts raise questions about the true role of soap and whether consumers are being misled by products that don’t actually kill bacteria. With unexpected results and a deep dive into soap's ingredients, this episode sparks a new inquiry into what 'clean' really means.

Takeaways

• 😀 The experiment explores how different cleaning methods (water, soap, mud) affect bacterial growth on legs.
• 😀 Surprisingly, soap led to more bacterial growth in the experiment, contrary to expectations.
• 😀 A clean water rinse showed fewer bacteria than washing with soap, challenging the effectiveness of soap.
• 😀 There may be a difference between soaps that simply remove surface dirt and those that effectively kill bacteria.
• 😀 The results raise questions about the effectiveness of common soaps like Dove in fully cleaning skin.
• 😀 The presence of bacteria after using soap suggests that soap might not always perform its primary job of cleaning.
• 😀 Ingredients in soap, such as glycerin and oils, may leave skin moist and potentially allow bacteria to thrive.
• 😀 The experiment sparked questions about whether all soaps, including antibacterial ones, are equally effective at cleaning.
• 😀 The group speculates that the soap industry may be misleading consumers about the true cleaning power of their products.
• 😀 The episode sets up further investigations into how different soaps, including medical-grade ones, compare in effectiveness.

Q & A

Why did the bacteria count increase when soap was used on the legs?

The experiment found that soap did not remove bacteria as expected. In fact, after using soap, the bacteria count increased, possibly because the soap spread the bacteria or didn't effectively kill them. This raised questions about the effectiveness of the soap used in the experiment.

What role did the type of clothing play in the experiment?

Clothing, specifically jeans, seemed to contribute to the higher bacterial count on Matt's legs. It was hypothesized that jeans might harbor more bacteria compared to lighter clothing like shorts or skirts, which were worn by other participants.

What was the key ingredient in Dove's antibacterial soap that might have improved cleanliness?

Benzalkonium chloride, an antibacterial preservative, was identified as a key ingredient that could potentially improve cleanliness. This ingredient is commonly found in hand sanitizers and eye drops, and it helps eliminate bacteria. However, it is not included in regular Dove soap, which may explain why it didn't perform as expected in the experiment.

How did the results differ between rinsing with water and using soap?

Rinsing with water was surprisingly more effective at removing bacteria compared to using soap. The cultures showed fewer bacteria after a water rinse than after using soap, suggesting that water may sometimes be more effective than soap at removing dirt and bacteria from the skin.

What other factors might have contributed to the unexpected results in the experiment?

Several factors could have contributed to the unexpected results, including the type of soap used, the specific bacteria present on the legs, and the condition of the skin before washing. The experiment used Dove soap, which may not have had the antibacterial properties expected, and other types of soap might yield different results.

Why did the team suspect that all soaps might not be as effective as advertised?

The team became suspicious of soap effectiveness after seeing the bacteria count increase despite using soap. This suggested that not all soaps are designed to actually kill bacteria. Some soaps may only remove surface dirt without effectively sanitizing the skin.

What did the team hypothesize about the role of jeans in the experiment?

The team hypothesized that jeans might trap more bacteria than other types of clothing, like shorts or skirts. This could explain why Matt's bacterial cultures were more pronounced compared to Josiah's, as jeans might create a more bacteria-friendly environment.

What did Stephanie's science corner reveal about the complexities of soap?

Stephanie's science corner highlighted that soap, especially post-COVID, is being reevaluated for its effectiveness in killing microscopic contaminants. While traditional soap was meant to wash away dirt, the modern definition of 'clean' includes eliminating bacteria and viruses, which not all soaps are capable of doing.

How did the team define cleanliness during this experiment?

Cleanliness in this experiment was defined as the removal of bacteria from the skin. The team questioned whether typical soaps, which may only remove surface dirt, are actually cleaning the skin in a way that prevents bacterial growth or contamination.

What are the next steps the team plans to take based on the experiment's results?

The team plans to conduct further tests to explore the effectiveness of different types of soap, including those labeled as antibacterial. They also aim to investigate whether certain soaps or ingredients are more effective at cleaning and preventing bacterial buildup.