Five Reasons to Avoid Anti-Bacterial Soap

I have long believed that anti-bacterial soaps are not healthy and that people should avoid using them.  I was greatly encouraged to hear that the FDA is finally addressing the issue of anti-bacterial soap dangers.  According to the AP,

Under a proposed rule released Monday, the agency will require manufacturers to prove that anti-bacterial soaps are safe and more effective than plain soap and water. Products that are not shown to be safe and effective by late 2016 would have to be reformulated, relabeled or removed from the market.

If you’re not convinced that anti-bacterial soaps should be avoided, here are five reasons why you should remove all anti-bacterial products from your home.

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1. Anti-bacterial soaps are NOT more effective than soap and water.  Despite what the marketing for commercial soaps claims, plain soap and water cleans just as well as anti-bacterial soap.  Remember this article I wrote on how soap works?  Both goat milk soap and anti-bacterial soap work the same way.   In fact, in 2005, an FDA panel concluded that there was “no added benefit” from using anti-bacterial products over soap and water.  

In case you’re still not convinced (I don’t always believe everything the FDA has to say either), are you aware that the anti-bacterial chemicals need to be left on your skin for about two minutes for them to actually kill any bacteria? Few people in a home environment wash their hands for at least two minutes.  I know we certainly don’t.  

2. Anti-bacterial soaps contain harmful chemicals.  There are two main chemicals used in anti-bacterial soaps – triclosan and triclocarban.  Triclosan has been linked to disrupting hormones, damaging reproductive systems, and affecting how your heart and muscles contract. 

One study discovered triclosan in the urine of approximately 75% of a representative sample of the United States general population.  Another study found triclosan in breastmilk and stated, “The concentrations [of triclosan] were higher in both plasma and milk from the mothers who used personal care products containing triclosan than in the mothers who did not.”

This is not a chemical I believe we should be using on our skin.

3. Anti-bacterial soaps promote antibiotic resistance.  Anti-bacterial soaps were first created and used in hospitals, where bacteria are common and where patients are weakened and have compromised immune systems. The problem occured when these anti-bacterial products started being marketed to everyday people outside of hospital settings.  

The anti-bacterial chemicals are now added to a great number of consumer products such as soaps, body wash, cleaning products, clothing, mouth wash, cosmetics, hair conditioners, deodorants, first-aid products, and even toothpaste. 

Making these chemicals like triclosan so prevalent exposes many more bacteria and microbes to the chemicals.  This can cause them to become antibiotic resistant or to become stronger.  In 2000, the American Medical Association (AMA) officially declared they were against adding antimicrobials to consumer products, stating they should be avoided “until the data emerge to show antimicrobials in consumer products are effective at preventing infection.” This has not been proven.

4. Anti-bacterial soaps can lead to weaker immune systems.  One of the best ways to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy is to work on strengthening our immune systems. This requires being exposed to germs so our immune systems can grow. (Note: I am not talking about people with compromised immune systems).  

I can understand a parent not wanting their children to get sick.  The thought is that if you kill all the bacteria in your home, you’re protecting your children.  But if  you keep your home sanitized, your children are less exposed to germs and their immune systems don’t get as much of a “work out” so they can get stronger.  

Unfortunately, we don’t live in a sanitized world.  Your child will leave your house at some point, and be exposed to germs and allergens their immune systems haven’t had to deal with.  As much as we sometimes want to put our children in a bubble to keep them safe, we can’t protect them from all the bacteria in the world. 

5. Anti-bacterial soaps are not good for the environment. According to Beyond Pesticides, around 95% of triclosan goes down residential drains.  This is a big problem because waste water treatment plants do not remove all of the chemical, so triclosan makes its way into our lakes and rivers.  This contaminated water may even be used to irrigate our crops.

Beyond Pesticides also stated that, “According to a U.S. Geological Survey study of 95 different organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, Triclosan was one of the most frequently detected compounds and at some of the highest concentrations.  Even though little is known about the effects of Triclosan on wildlife, one study found that Triclosan disrupts thyroid hormone-associated gene expression in the North American bullfrog.”  

While we haven’t fully studied the results of the presence of triclosan in our water systems (that I know of), the addition of such a chemical can’t be good for the environment, for animals, or for humans. 

Those are the reasons I am against anti-bacterial products and won’t use them in our home.  

Instead, we use lots of goat milk soap to clean our hands, lots of goat milk laundry soap to clean our clothes, and lots of vinegar to clean our house. If you’re trying to kill bacteria around your home, lemon juice or vinegar are great choices.  They can create an acidic enviornment in which microbes can’t survive.  And because they don’t leave a residue, bacteria can’t form a resistance to them.

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Despite the dangers that anti-bacterial soaps cause, they are still widely used.  A recent study performed by Dr. Eli Perencevich, an infectious diseases researcher, showed that 76 percent of liquid soaps and 29 percent of bar soaps contained antibacterial agents, such as triclosan and triclocarban.  I’ve also seen statistics that according to the FDA, more than 93 percent of bar soaps contain triclocarban or triclosan.  

If you are still concerned about bacteria, our tea tree goat milk soap is a more natural way to fight bacteria. Tea tree essential oil is naturally anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal.  But remember, the best way is to thoroughly and regularly wash your hands with soap.  And when you use Goat Milk Stuff soap, you don’t need to worry about any added anti-bacterial chemicals like triclosan.  

 

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Category: Soap & Stuff
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40 thoughts on “Five Reasons to Avoid Anti-Bacterial Soap”

  1. Thank you for the article! I knew reason #3, but didn’t realize any of the rest. I love the idea of a more natural approach to cleaning!

  2. It’s hard to find a soap in the stores that does not contain anti-bacterial chemicals in it.

  5. We stopped using anti-bacterial soaps when we found that they did not allow bacteria to live in a septic system. We certainly don’t need more chemicals. Love the goat milk soap. =)

  7. Great post, I think I will go home and check all my hand soap now! I actually use essential oils a lot in general (Young Living is the best), and love that you have essential oils in some of your soaps.

    • Essential oils are wonderful, but please be careful when using them. I do not at all agree with some of the claims made by some of the MLM essential oil companies. PJ

      • The only one I trust is Young Living – my sister has researched this extensively and her family use these oils almost exclusively (internally and externally), even on her babies and they are the healthiest family I know, and they don’t use medications. I’ve been much healthier since using them. I wouldn’t just use anything off the shelf but this company has proven it has GREAT products and they are much less concerned with the MLM concept than helping people become healthy.

        • I respectfully disagree – especially with any and all of their recommendations to use essential oils internally.

          Let’s please not turn this into a debate on that company. I am glad that your sister’s family is healthy and I respect her choice and your choice to use those oils. But on my blog, I cannot let people believe that I personally support anything they have to say or recommend.

          Thanks for understanding, PJ

          • I didn’t intend on debating on any company or product, only assuring I am careful with my use of the oils and would not use anything that I didn’t personally feel was safe. However, I respect your choices as well and appreciate all your hard work in giving us all natural soap and products that I can utilize in trying to remove chemicals from my life. Please feel free to delete the comment trail if you would like it not to be included here, I will not be offended. Thanks.

          • No need to delete – you’ve done exactly what I always promote: Do the research and decide what is best for yourself and your family!! Good job 🙂 PJ

  8. Great post. I love the feel of handmade soaps over the alcohol-based antibacterial ANY day!

  12. PJ, I agree with you. I am not in the medical field, but work in a hospital. Regular hand washing with mild soap is just as efficient and less harmful than antibacterial soap. Just for the record, I am also against regular use of hand sanitizer, and think it should only be used when soap and water isn’t available. Our bodies were created to withstand a certain amount of bacteria and in our attempt to be “clean” we’ve compromised our natural immune systems.

  13. Thanks for sharing..I have felt this way for quite some time and although we still have some antibacterial we are making a conscious effort to rid our house. We are also on a septic system which anti bacterial can mess with as well

  14. Thank you for this very interesting article. I am an RN and wash my hands almost as frequently as Lady Macbeth. I actually didn’t realize that anti-bacterial soaps are as harmful as they are, and am changing to goat milk soap as soon as I receive my order. I’m so glad that I found you on Mike Huckabee’s show and am looking forward to include your products in my anti-cancer lifestyle.

    • I love that reference!! You don’t hear many Shakespeare references anymore. I’m glad you found us too. 🙂
      PJ

  15. I received my order from you yesterday, and absolutely love the goat milk soap! My skin felt so refreshed, the fragrance was wonderful and I didn’t need lotion after my shower like I always do. I love all of the products I ordered, I’m now a lifetime fan of Goat Milk Stuff! Thank you!

  17. I had no idea about the harmful chemicals contained in anti-bacterial soaps. I will not be purchasing anti-bacterial soap again. Thank you so much, PJ, for continuing to provide much needed information to help us to keep our families safe and healthy.

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