# Antibacterial Soap No Better than Regular **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 20, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117 "2005-10-20T18:13:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/1 "2005-10-20T18:13:21Z")
[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051020/ap\_on\_he\_me/fda\_antibacterial](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051020/ap_on_he_me/fda_antibacterial) We don’t use antibacterial soap in our house – after years of scrubbing up for the ogffice, Pepper Mill has bad reactions to antibacterial agents (and latex), so we don’t use them. And we’ve been hearing for years about overuse of antibacterials backfiring by helping bring out resistant strains. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/2 "2005-10-20T18:41:27Z")
Not only do I actively avoud products marked as antibacterial, I try my best to build up my immuse system by washing myself and my apartment as infrequently as possible. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/3 "2005-10-20T18:49:08Z")
I’ve long refused to buy the stuff on principle. What pisses me off is that it is so damned hard to find regular (as opposed to anti-bacterial) liquid soap. Honest to Og, Target and our grocery store each offer ONE type of regular liquid soap. Don’t like the fragrance? Tough nuggies. I’ve bought bath gel before, but it’s not as thick so I’m sure it ended up a costing much more per handwashing, so it honked me off. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/4 "2005-10-20T18:57:27Z")
hmm… > [@](#): > > Levy said overuse of antibiotics is the main cause of bacteria developing resistance to them. He acknowledged that a yearlong study showed that homes using anti-bacterial soaps did not show an increase in resistant bacteria in significant numbers. But he argued the soaps will still contribute to resistance over a longer period. He doesn’t say the antibacterial soaps have been found to increase resistance, he just says it will… and that, although they leave behind some bacteria, they do kill off some others… not exactly a stunning endorsement for banning these products… ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/5 "2005-10-20T19:08:31Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > hmm… > > He doesn’t say the antibacterial soaps have been found to increase resistance, he just says it will… and that, although they leave behind some bacteria, they do kill off some others… not exactly a stunning endorsement for banning these products… Nor is it a good reason for it to be about the only stuff on the market. ---
**Author:** ![Arwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Arwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwin)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/6 "2005-10-20T19:37:36Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > And we’ve been hearing for years about overuse of antibacterials backfiring by helping bring out resistant strains. Worth repeating. There is also stuff like anti-bacterial paint that people use in their children’s room or even everywhere. This stuff belongs in hospitals only. Using them unnecessarily just increases the number of bacteria immune to them, so that they become worthless in a hospital, where they are really needed. Besides that, a child, from the earliest days on and especially in the first year, needs to come into contact with a certain amount of dirt so that its immune system can develop properly. Too little exposure may lead to allergies and other immune system related disorders. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/7 "2005-10-20T19:46:34Z")
> [@Arwin](#): > > Besides that, a child, from the earliest days on and especially in the first year, needs to come into contact with a certain amount of dirt so that its immune system can develop properly. Too little exposure may lead to allergies and other immune system related disorders. Yea! I have been saying that for years. I am discussed at the trend of commercials that make it seem like if your kid gets cold it is because you are a bad parent and didn’t disinfect everything he touches. Getting sick is a part of childhood, yea it kinda sucks, but hey that’s life. It’s better for them to get it out of their system young. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/8 "2005-10-20T19:53:50Z")
Straight from my nursing boards (20 years ago)–the most important aspect of handwashing is…FRICTION. Yoose gots to scrub, scrub, scrub–the soap is irrelevant(for household purposes). I’ve always thought that ABS is a crock. We use some strong stuff in the hospital, but there is NO need to do so at home. Home is where your normal (for you) flora (so to speak) live. It’s the mixing with other’s normal flora(as in a hospital or say, dorm) that stirs the pot. Just practice good hand washing–after using the toilet, before cooking, after yard work and emptying garbage and you’ll be fine. Really.\* \*assuming an intact and fully functioning immune system. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/9 "2005-10-20T19:54:53Z")
Straight from my nursing boards (20 years ago)–the most important aspect of handwashing is…FRICTION. Yoose gots to scrub, scrub, scrub–the soap is irrelevant(for household purposes). I’ve always thought that ABS is a crock. We use some strong stuff in the hospital, but there is NO need to do so at home. Home is where your normal (for you) flora (so to speak) live. It’s the mixing with other’s normal flora(as in a hospital or say, dorm) that stirs the pot. Just practice good hand washing–after using the toilet, before cooking, after yard work and emptying garbage and you’ll be fine. Really.\* \*assuming an intact and fully functioning immune system. ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/10 "2005-10-20T20:22:04Z")
I love the irony of all the ads for antibacterial hand washes and wipes in a thread where we’re basically bashing them. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/11 "2005-10-20T20:36:18Z")
😕 I apologize for the double post–I didn’t even click twice? Delete, please, mods, if desired. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/12 "2005-10-20T20:42:17Z")
A good place to find a variety of non-antibacterial handsoaps are any kind of natural food stores, as well as those kind of “country” gift shops you find in little tourist-trap towns. They always dry out my hands more than regular soaps, anyway, even the ones that are supposed to be moisturizing. The one I use is a nice almond-oil soap - it smells good, and gets dirt off. Also, I’m not dead of some sort of bacterial doom, so I must be doing something right. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/13 "2005-10-20T21:19:10Z")
I have this wonderful liquid glycerin stuff from a hippie food store (or as close to one as they seem to get around here anyway). It’s great, and comes in several scents. Mmm, peppermint. And lemon! It doesn’t dry my hands out at all. And of course, being from where it’s from, it’s not antibacterial. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/14 "2005-10-20T22:35:15Z")
> [@whiterabbit](#): > > I have this wonderful liquid glycerin stuff from a hippie food store All-One! All-One! Dilute! Dilute! O-K! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/15 "2005-10-20T22:39:34Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > … the ogffice… You work for Og? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/16 "2005-10-20T22:41:23Z")
The local NBC station confused matters in their story on this by also showing the Purell antibacterial hand sanitizer - which is basically aloe gel (or something similar) with alcohol, and **not** the stuff referred to in the story. Yay for lazy reporting! > [@(Linked article in OP)](#): > > Panelists also distinguished alcohol-based hand cleansers from antibacterial soaps and washes. The cleansers are particularly useful in situations where there is no soap and water. ---
**Author:** ![Arwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Arwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwin)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/17 "2005-10-20T22:45:01Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Straight from my nursing boards (20 years ago)–the most important aspect of handwashing is…FRICTION. > > Yoose gots to scrub, scrub, scrub–the soap is irrelevant(for household purposes). Where it is also relevant to note that people who wash their hands with soap a lot end up losing the protective oil on their skin and will end up having to moisterise their hands from middle-age onwards. Or at least, that’s how I read it a long time ago, but remember that a week later as if the God of Irony willed it, I met the father of a friend, who turned out to work at a soap factory, washed his hands with soap about 6 times a day - before and after every meal - and had this exact same problem. ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/18 "2005-10-20T22:49:37Z")
Bath and Body Works sells gloriously scented regular liquid hand soap. It’s a little pricy, though. But heavenly scented. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/19 "2005-10-20T23:02:51Z")
> [@Arwin](#): > > Or at least, that’s how I read it a long time ago, but remember that a week later as if the God of Irony willed it, I met the father of a friend, who turned out to work at a soap factory, washed his hands with soap about 6 times a day - before and after every meal - and had this exact same problem. You’re not messing with your skin’s ability to make more oil, just stripping off every last bit of what it’s produced so far, which takes some time to replenish. People I know who work in labs (and thus wash a lot) tend to use soaps that contain moisturizers, to stave off drying skin. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117/20 "2005-10-20T23:26:42Z")
The only time I use anti-bacterial soap is when I’m working with raw meat in the kitchen. Of course, a weak bleach solution like labs use to clean the knives, cutting boards and counter surfaces would probably be more effective. I don’t use anti-bacterial anything else if I can help it. I agree that healthy humans should have gentle immune challenges throughout your day to keep your immune system on its toes. We actually become ill if we get rid of all the bacteria we normally harbour in our bodies. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibacterial-soap-no-better-than-regular/327117.md?page=2)