Trying to fight back-to-school germs? Don’t use antibacterial soap, FDA says

Back to school often means more germs in your home. But federal authorities are reminding you to think twice before lathering your household with antibacterial soap.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there is no evidence that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps clean better or prevent illness than regular soap and water. In fact, long-term use of antibacterial soap may actually do more harm than good.

The federal agency says soaps labeled as antibacterial, antimicrobial or antiseptic contain chemicals not found in regular soap. The agency says this can lead to a false sense of security that the soaps are better at reducing or preventing bacterial infections.

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“If you are using these products because you think they will protect you better than soap and water, that is not correct. If you are using them because that is how they feel, then there are many other products that have a similar composition but do not expose your family to unnecessary chemicals,” said Dr. Theresa M. Michele of the FDA.

The FDA ruled in 2016 that antibacterial ingredients such as triclosan and triclocarban could no longer be marketed in over-the-counter antiseptic wash products for consumers because manufacturers could not prove that the ingredients were safe for long-term use or that the ingredients were more effective than plain soap and water.

At the time, triclosan was used in 93% of all “antibacterial” products. And while there was no evidence that it was dangerous to humans, some animal studies showed that it could be hormonally disruptive when used in high doses.

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Manufacturers are currently developing additional safety and efficacy data for three new ingredients – benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride and chloroxylenol – to be introduced into antibacterial products.

However, a 2018 animal study showed that these three ingredients can also have negative effects on the body, potentially “exaggerating” the development of inflammatory bowel disease and associated colon cancer.

Ultimately, the FDA says that for home use, nothing is better than plain soap and water. Their guidelines on antibacterial soaps do not apply to soaps used in healthcare settings, or to hand sanitizers or towels.

When washing with regular soap and water, the CDC recommends scrubbing for at least 20 seconds — or singing the song “Happy Birthday” twice — and if you don’t have access to soap and water, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.