Here's Why You Never Need To Clean Brass Or Copper Doorknobs

Publish Date
Wednesday, 23 March 2016, 4:25PM
Photo / iStock

Photo / iStock

If you've got brass or copper doorknobs in your house you need not worry about cleaning bacteria off them!

However, stainless steel doorknobs are chronic bacteria carriers.

Metals like brass and copper actually have something that is called the oligodynamic effect. This the act of the metals disinfecting themselves.

According to Tested, a study found that within 15 minutes copper had already partially disinfected itself from bacteria, whereas materials like stainless steel (used predominately for cutlery) are full of germs.

A study conducted by National College of Kathmandu in Nepal found out why this happens.

"The exact mechanism of this action is still unknown but some data suggest that the metal ions denature protein of the target cells by binding to reactive groups resulting in their precipitation and inactivation. The high affinity of cellular proteins for the metallic ions results in the death of the cells due to cumulative effects of the ion within the cells," the study found.

Science!

Source.

 

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