Start Using Plain Soap

Now more than ever washing your hands is so important! Hand washing removes germs from your hands, helps you avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others. But did you know that antibacterial soap could be harmful to the environment?

Triclosan, the chemical compound added to some liquid soaps, toothpaste, cosmetics and more, is linked to water quality concerns and potential impacts on human health.* It turns out that plain soap and water is just as effective as antibacterial soaps for keeping hands clean and germ free. If overused antibacterial soap can also reduce the healthy bacteria on your skin and make your hands drier. That’s why the Minnesota Department of Health recommends plain soap and water, with vigorous rubbing of your hands as the most important step, to wash your hands.

 Pros of Regular Soap

• Antibacterial soaps are no more effective than regular soap and water for killing disease-causing germs.
• Regular soap tends to be less expensive than antibacterial soap and hand sanitizers.
• Regular soap won’t kill healthy bacteria on the skin’s surface.

The technique used while washing your hands is actually more important than the soap you use! Remember to wet your hands, lather and scrub thoroughly and then rise with water.

 

Source: https://www.unitypoint.org/blankchildrens/article