Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Cells, Microbes & Viruses => Topic started by: Geezer on 24/05/2011 19:20:28

Title: Does detergent have an effect on bacteria?
Post by: Geezer on 24/05/2011 19:20:28

Does a small amount of dishwashing detergent in water do anything to deter the growth of bacteria? Does it disrupt their ability to multiply?

Title: Does detergent have an effect on bacteria?
Post by: CZARCAR on 24/05/2011 20:34:58

dunno but do know some bacteria can live inside a kerosene tank i think.

Title: Does detergent have an effect on bacteria?
Post by: CliffordK on 24/05/2011 21:34:49

Most soaps are a polar lipid such as a phospholipid, or a fatty acid salt.

While they may initially aid in scrubbing grease and grime from surfaces, water with a moderate amount of soap dissolved in it should make good bacteria chow.  At least it would be much more favorable to bacterial growth than distilled water.

Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is considered antibacterial.

Perhaps this should be moved to the "Science Experiment" section as it would actually be interesting to run a comparative experiment with a few different types of soap and water.

Title: Does detergent have an effect on bacteria?
Post by: Bored chemist on 25/05/2011 06:55:22

It depends on the bugs and it depends on the detergent.
Even ordinary soap will kill some viruses and bacteria.

Title: Does detergent have an effect on bacteria?
Post by: Variola on 28/05/2011 19:19:03

Many cleaning products contain SDS, (sodium dodecyl sulphate), which is used in the lab to disrupt cell walls in bacteria.
It disrupts the protein structure, and breaks up the non-covalent bonds, and as such is is also used in SDS PAGE electrophoresis to separate out proteins by molecular weight and size.
So yup, washing up liquid is not a bacterium's best friend!

Title: Does detergent have an effect on bacteria?
Post by: Geezer on 28/05/2011 19:32:47

Quote from: Variola on 28/05/2011 19:19:03

Many cleaning products contain SDS, (sodium dodecyl sulphate), which is used in the lab to disrupt cell walls in bacteria.
It disrupts the protein structure, and breaks up the non-covalent bonds, and as such is is also used in SDS PAGE electrophoresis to separate out proteins by molecular weight and size.
So yup, washing up liquid is not a bacterium's best friend!

Fantastic! That's EXACTLY what I was thinking (apart from all the stuff about chemicals, proteins, molecules, bonds and electrowhatsit of course).