A recent US study highlights mouthwashes, nasal rinses, and baby shampoos as potential tools for neutralizing certain coronaviruses, offering hope for curbing SARS-CoV-2 spread.
Recent research has explored everyday products like lip balm against coronaviruses. Now, a study from Penn State College of Medicine, published in the Journal of Medical Virology on September 17, 2020, suggests mouthwashes, nasal rinses, and baby shampoos could be valuable allies in combating SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The researchers emphasize these are not miracle cures but may help lower viral spread.
The team tested HCoV-229E, a coronavirus causing mild colds that is genetically similar to SARS-CoV-2. Experiments were conducted in vitro on cultured human cells—no human trials yet.
Scientists exposed human liver cells in culture to HCoV-229E mixed with 1% dilutions of mouthwash, nasal rinse, or baby shampoo. All three effectively inactivated the virus, though efficacy varied. Baby shampoo at 1% deactivated 99.9% of the virus after 1-2 minutes of exposure. Mouthwash and nasal rinse achieved similar results in just 30 seconds.
These findings align with a June 2020 German study showing mouthwashes significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 viral loads. However, both studies stress the need for clinical trials in humans to confirm if these products can lower viral loads in COVID-19 patients.
