It all seems a bit too simple. Washing your hands with soap and water to thwart a new disease that is overwhelming health systems around the world and bludgeoning the international economy.

But an Australian professor has produced a useful Twitter thread explaining why soap and water really do work in the battle against spreading coronavirus, and why we all need to try really, really hard not to touch our faces.

123RF Professor Palli Thordarson explains why soap plays such an important role in stopping the spread of coronavirus.

Professor Palli Thordarson, an expert in supramolecular chemistry at the University of New South Wales, explains why he reckons soap and water are better than fancier products.

That said, Thordarson points out that disinfectants, liquids, wipes, gels and creams containing alcohol (and soap) have a similar effect to normal soap, but are not quite as good.

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"Apart from the alcohol and soap, the 'antibacterial agents' in these products don't affect the virus structure much at all," he said.

"Consequently, many antibacterial products are basically just an expensive version of soap in terms of how they act on viruses.

"Soap is the best but alcohol wipes are good when soap is not practical or handy (e.g. office receptions)."

Thordarson delves into the science in his thread, which is also available on Facebook, but just a bit and he keeps it simple.

At its most basic, soap works so well on coronavirus, and on many other viruses, because it dissolves the lipid (fatty) protective coat around the virus.

Another thing soap molecules do is compete with other bonds that help a virus stick together. "The soap is effectively 'dissolving' the glue that holds the virus together," Thordarson said.

"The soap also outcompetes the interactions between the virus and the skin surface. Soon the viruses get detached and fall apart like a house of cards due to the combined action of the soap and water. The virus is gone!"

Thordarson also explains why the virus is less inclined to stick to flatter surfaces, such as steel, porcelain and at least some plastics. In contrast, skin is an "ideal" surface for a virus.

"So when you touch say a steel surface with a virus particle on it, it will stick to your skin and hence get transferred onto your hands," Thordarson said.

"But you are not (yet) infected. If you touch your face though, the virus can get transferred from your hands and on to your face. And now the virus is dangerously close to the airways and the mucus type membranes in and around your mouth and eyes. So the virus can get in…and voila! You are infected (that is, unless your immune system kills the virus)."

It was thought coronavirus could stay active on some surfaces for hours, possibly a day.

The virus gets onto surfaces when an infected person sneezes or coughs.

"When you cough, or especially when you sneeze, tiny droplets from the airways can fly up to 10 metres (30 ft)! The larger ones are thought to be main coronavirus carriers and they can go at least 2m (7 ft). Thus – cover your coughs & sneezes people!"