Is our soap as good as antibacterial handwash? The short answer is a resounding YES! But please read on to discover the science behind our soaps.
As the Covid 19 virus continues and our hands dry up from the extra antibacterial handwashing, I've had lots of friends ask me whether natural soap is also good at killing germs. To answer this, it's important to learn a little bit about the science behind how soap works.
As Harvard University explains, soap molecules work by loosening bacteria and viruses from your hands so that they can be washed away. As a visual learner myself, I find the below diagram helps to understand this process in a visual way:
Why antibacterial soap isn't the best answer.
Commercial soaps often contain added substances that promise to kill bacteria and viruses, but the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) found that these added ingredients were no more effective in cleaning skin and eliminating germs than regular soap. Those antibacterial ingredients may actually expose people and the environment to harsh substances without any added benefit:
“Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). “In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term.”
While the FDA did ban some antibacterial ingredients in 2016, many commercial soaps still contain a variety of harmful antibacterial substances.
Why I think natural soap is better
Apart from removing the dirt and bacteria found in water droplets, our soap also cleanses your skin. In fact, your skin will feel softer and refreshed after using our soap - you can't say that after a few pumps of antibac!