Every once in a great while we’re given the opportunity to share something that could actually help the planet even if just one in ten people who read our blog put it into practice (like toting reusable shopping bags or collecting rainwater in a barrel). And this, my friends, is one of those times. Please feel free to pass this info on to your friends and family members!
And who do we have to thank for this wealth of information that just might change the world as we know it (or at least change your impact on the planet from this day forward)? Why none other than my über intelligent little brother Dan (also affectionately known as Almost-Doctor Dan):
Remember when we introduced him here (and revisited his giant brain here)? As a little refresher, he went to Cornell and graduated with the highest GPA of his entire graduating class (a 4.21 if you’re wondering). Yup, out of all of the kids in Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, he was the Valedictorian. Now he’s a graduate student at Columbia with a Master’s degree under his belt, steadily working his way up to his Doctorate in chemistry with a full scholarship from the National Science Foundation. Not only do they pay for his education but they actually pay him a stipend for rent and food- all in return for wearing a lab coat almost 24/7 and messing around with molecules and polymers all day. Sweet deal huh? Serious Einstein stuff going on.
Anyway, so on a recent phone convo we got to talking about the impending flu season and all the gross germs that seem to be swirling around more and more these days (thanks so about a million media stories on the subject) and Dan shared something so unbelievable that we just had to pass it on. In short, we learned that the idea of antibacterial soap is a marketing ploy that’s actually terrible for the environment. Here’s Almost-Doctor Dan to break things down for us:
What makes most “antibacterial soaps” antibacterial is a chlorinated aromatic compound called Triclosan. By itself this compound doesn’t appear toxic to humans, but every time you wash your hands this stuff is ending up in wastewater and eventually making its way into the environment. Think about how quickly you go through a bottle of hand soap and realize that every last drop of it ends up going down the drain. You’ve got millions of people across the country using this and it’s ending up in lakes, streams, oceans etc (where it’s not particularly biodegradable by the way).
If it were really keeping people from getting sick, perhaps an argument could be made that this is an acceptable consequence, but it really isn’t necessary! Bacteria and viruses can’t penetrate healthy, intact skin. The only way that pathogenic bacteria on your hands can make you sick is if you eat something or touch a mucous membrane (your eyes, nose, mouth, etc); up until that point they are basically harmless and loosely attached to your skin.
And to remove them from your skin before you eat or touch a mucous membrane, any soap that you use will not only dislodge bacteria from your hands but will likely kill it as well by disrupting its cell membranes. This is why the whole idea of an ‘antibacterial soap’ is just plain silly – any type of soap in and of itself will cleanse your hands of bacteria. Unless you work in an environment that requires truly sterile hands (a hospital for example) the use of these antibacterial soaps is a waste of money and resources as well as a bane to the environment.
Is that not the most interesting thing you’ve heard all day? Well, we thought it was, and we couldn’t believe that companies are slapping the old “antibacterial” claim on their bottles to encourage people to purchase them when in fact they’re doing the world more harm than good (and regular old soap and water does the same thing without the environmental harm!). By no means do we mean to be preachy, but we just had to pass this info along in the hopes that even a few other households might adopt an anti-antibacterial approach and keep tons of damaging pollutants from permeating lakes, rivers, and oceans over time (can you imagine how much of a difference this new approach could make if just ten people changed the type of soap that they purchase over the next ten years?).
We also got a letter from another Almost-Doctor (Kristin who’s currently getting her PhD in Germany) who actually works with bacteria on a day-to-day basis. Here’s what she has to say on the subject:
Bacteria, in general, live nearly everywhere. The vast majority is harmless, some are even beneficial. Even when you wash your hands with antibacterial/disinfectant soaps, the remaining bacteria grows back to their normal number within hours or a day. And as I mentioned, some bacteria are actually beneficial. For example, microbiologists who have to use antibacterial disinfectants on their hands several times a day often suffer from skin damage because the beneficial bacterial skin flora is destroyed (and skin damage can make you more susceptible to getting sick while healthy intact skin is usually impervious to germs).
When cleaning we should think of bacteria as a normal part of our environment, not as something that should be completely destroyed. It is impossible to get rid of bacteria completely, and there is no need to. Too much antibacterial disinfection in households can even become dangerous – the more disinfectants that we use, the higher the possibility is that strain of bacteria will become resistant. In addition, some scientists think a too clean environment facilitates allergies – your immune system has to be trained constantly.
Water with soap kills or washes off 99% of all bacteria. If you do not want to use too much soap, or any at all, you can even use a microfiber cloth with water only – the small fibers will collect most of the bacteria and the towel can be washed in hot water to naturally disinfect it afterwards (which destroys the microbes). These two methods of hand washing are completely sufficient for a normal household with healthy people.
So there you have it. Two insanely smart science-minded brainiacs on separate continents who agree on one thing: lose that antibacterial stuff and wash you hands thoroughly with good old fashioned soap and water to kill germs just as well and do a serious solid to Mother Nature while you’re at it. John and I are big fans of Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castille Soap (the almond scent is our favorite). It’s sold at Target among other places and it’s made with organic oils and even stored in a 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottle. Basically, if you’re looking to replace your antibacterial soap and want some extra credit, this stuff is about as pure as they come (it’s certified fair trade and plant-based so it won’t hurt lakes, streams, rivers and oceans in the least). And so ends our little soap diatribe. Here’s to our health this fall! And the planet’s health too.
Need more of a reference than two almost doctors? Check out what the Center For Disease Control has to say on the subject here and here (hint: they agree with the braniacs above).
Maria says
Great post, really got me thinking. So, how does this relate to swine flu and other such viruses? I know it was kind of mentioned above but I just want to be clear. Are all the antibacterial liquids we use as we go into workplaces and schools etc just a waste of time? Or is it just that ordinary soap would be just as good in preventing the spread of swine flu? I live in Ireland and those antibacterial liquids are everywhere these days. I carry one in my handbag too. I can’t think of the brand name now but they’re all ones that you don’t have to use water with.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Maria and Deb,
Unless you’re in a surgical environment there’s no need to use antibacterial soaps according not only to Almost-Doctor Dan and Almost-Doctor Kristin but also to the Center For Disease Control! Which means that whether you’re in a germy school or you’re about to hold a baby, regular old soap and water is just as effective at eliminating germs! As for the flu and other viruses, even antibacterial soap can’t claim to kill them (it only kills bacteria) so again, regular soap and water is just as effective as rinsing those viruses off your hands.
And as for where Almost-Doctor Dan stands on gel hand sanitizers like Purell, here are his thoughts:
I don’t know a lot about hand sanitizers like Purell, but they seem to fall in the category of ‘probably unnecessary’ but not that bad. Again a lot of people have this idea that bacteria on their hands is some terrible thing – as long as you’re not putting your hands in your mouth/eyes/nose it really doesn’t matter (and even if you are, most bacteria is not damaging in any way). Depending on what they have in them they might dry out your skin (which can open you up to a bacterial invasion as opposed to supple healthy skin which is impervious to the stuff) but since you’re not actually washing anything off of your hands it’s unlikely to hurt the environment.
The verdict: good old non-antibacterial soap and water is still the best method, but it’s probably not the worst thing to do in a pinch.
Oh and going back to the baby topic, here’s an article in the New York Times that actually says that exposure to germs is beneficial since it helps them build their immune system:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/health/27brod.html?_r=1%29
So interesting, huh? Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Almost-Doctor Kristin says
Hi Chris,
Your point is 100% right. Our immune system must be trained constantly by harmless germs in order to properly distinguish pathogenic from harmless bacteria.
Regarding viruses, anti-bacterial agents like triclosan do not inactivate viruses, but most disinfectants such as hydrogen peroxide do. It depends on the mechanism. (In the lab, disinfection is a well-defined term meaning that no more than one out of 100.000 bacteria may survive the process – for sterilization, it’s one in 1.000.000)
Rebecca says
Hi Sherry,
Hand-sanitizers will not make children get alcohol poisoning. Please don’t look up dangers of these items and then post a link to them to scare people. Parents, don’t give your kids their own bottle of sanitizer, just put it on their hands for them. I am sorry, but that is kinda fear-mongering.
I remember a lady dying last year of drinking too much water too fast for some competition… does that mean we should not drink water?? That’s just silly.
Hand-sanitizers are in a different boat because they kill viruses like the Flu we are all hoping does not spread like wildflowers this winter. Everyone should do their part.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Rebecca,
We so do not mean to be fear mongers! We’re just sharing warnings just like we did a few comments back when someone told us that Dr. Bronners is too bubbly for the dishwasher or informed us that triclosan is in toothpaste! We appreciate people weighing in with opinions and when we heard Amy Y comment to say that her husband, who is a dentist and a bio major “doesn’t let our kids use hand sanitizer because of the high alcohol content and the fact that it could easily give alcohol poisoning to small children if they somehow ingested it” we felt that it was our duty to add that warning into the mix just as we did that Dr Bronner’s doesn’t agree with dishwashers and triclosan is in toothpaste! It actually makes sense that it could be a danger when you thiink about how parents lock toxic chemicals away but leave hand sanitizer within reach (on sinks, counters, and in purses)! We love when people chime in with info, and especially appreciated that another doctor (dentists are doctors too!) weighed in on the subject. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Shannon says
I am getting my PhD in physics at U of W. Does that mean I am almost Dr. Shannon ; )
Well, in that case. I recommend we all use common sense and some alcohol based sanitizer after touching dirty public spaces like door knobs, handles, bus surfaces, etc.
YoungHouseLove says
Welcome aboard Almost-Doctor Shannon! Thanks so much for weighing in! We love using common sense as prevention. It just makes so much… well, sense!
xo,
s
Kate says
Love this post! Thanks for helping to spread the word that plain old soap and water (and even just water) are healthiest for humans and the environment. Hand sanitizers should be used as sparingly as possible.
If you really want to prevent getting sick during cold & flu season, wash your hands with plain soap and water, get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, eat a balanced diet, take a multivitamin, exercise, and laugh. Oh, and ask all your sick friends and colleagues to STAY HOME while they are most infectious.
Beth says
Good post guys. I think you’ve done a good job at answering the nay-sayers. Just wanted to put out there that I think this is totally relevant to your blog’s main focus — which I would say is “making your house a home” — according to bullet 2 in the disclaimer (which includes all the environmental & economical home decorating advice as well as other topics you cover)
Jackie says
Mostly, I agree with you all but there is one caveat: regular soap kills most (90-something percent) of bacteria BUT only if you scrub for at least 2 minutes. Most of us don’t wash our hands properly, hence the emphasis on “anti-bacterial” soap, which won’t kill bacteria either if you don’t wash your hands long enough. Right on about increasing resistance, some species (esp Gram neg rods, for the geeks) actually LIVE in the ethanol and other disinfectants kept in labs.
Hand-sanitizer seems most helpful when time is short and things are dirty (e.g. in elementary school/daycare/nursing homes and hospitals). Alcohol hand-rub is more effective than hand-washing and is absolutely essential in HOSPITAL settings.
As far as viruses go, they technically aren’t alive (depending on which side of the controversy you stand on) so you just want to wash them off before touching mucus membranes (eyes, nose, mouth, etc).
CDC quote: “The mutant E. coli strains are truly resistant and would survive in triclosan-treated soaps diluted with as little as 3 parts water. Most importantly, the time, temperature, and amount needed to kill the bacteria greatly exceeded the average 5-second hand washing performed by most people.” http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no3_supp/levy.htm
PS – I’m an MD-type doctor, although I am just an intern, so take what I say with a grain of salt!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jackie,
Thanks so much for taking the time to pass on all that info! It totally makes sense that you have to wash your hands thoroughly to really get rid of germs, and also that hospital settings call for harsher germ treatments like alcohol based hand sanitizers! We also love the reminder that exposure to germs builds immunity (so crazy that some germs can actually live in some disenfectants!). Good stuff to remember!
xo,
s
Melanie says
Actual chemistry Dr. Mel says, excellent post and best of luck to Almost Dr. Dan. Common sense, soap, and water are among the best ways to protect ourselves from pathogens.
I’m a huge fan of the lavender scent of Dr. Bronner’s. Good stuff.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Actual-Doctor Melanie! So glad to hear more real doctors piping in (since you guys seem to carry even more clout than our Almost-Doctors!).
xo,
s
Karla D. says
Great post! I have known this for a while and kept the Bath and Body Works pump soaps that are so popular (but laden with triclosan) out of my home. Well that and the fact that my hubby is allergic to all of the artificial fragrances and perfumes.
I got sick with the flu a month ago and at that time I used alcohol-based hand sanitizer the entire time non-stop and did manage to keep hubby flu-free and I’ll use it when out and about shopping, etc. However, for the most part I just do the soap & hot water and make sure to take more than 2 seconds to clean my hands. I also like to use the most pure soaps that don’t contain chemicals or anything unpure like artificial fragrances.
I’ve found that’s the best way and other than my recent stint with the flu (I was staying with a sick friend for a week in a tiny apartment) my hubby and I rarely ever get sick.
I definitely think it’s the way to go for sure! Better for the fish too, all that chlorine/triclosan won’t cause overgrowth of algae and kill off the fish.
Karla D. says
Forgot to mention, for those of you that feel that you really need anti-bacterial products, opt for natural such as Thyme essential oils, tea tree oil, lavender. There are many available at whole foods. They even have a Thyme oil hand sanatizer which does not contain anything harmful, they offer great soaps too!
YoungHouseLove says
Another great point. Thanks Karla! We love using non-toxic ingredients which have 100% natural antibacterial properties (like tea tree oil) when it comes to keeping things clean- even things like the shower and the toilet. In fact stay tuned for a post full of all natural homemade cleaning recipes (made from a lot of the stuff you already have) that are so easy even we could pull ’em off!
xo,
s
Lover says
I seriously love your brother! He is my favorite feature on the blog. He’s so smart!
CeCe says
the actual doctor in my house agrees, and bringing up the topic also got him started on vegetable washes and the hype over bisphenol A :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks CeCe! We love to hear more Actual-Doctors backing our Almost-Doctors! Power to the brainiacs!
xo,
s
Jenet says
I just wanted to say I love your site and check it many times a day. And, being inspired by your eco-posts, I’ve just bought my first bottle of Mrs. Meyers (in geranium, which smells awesome!). Now, I’ve just ordered two bottles of Dr. Bronner’s online on their site. Anyway, while I was ordering, I saw that October is 15% off all 32 oz bottles of liquid soap. I picked up the Almond scent and Rose scent for $25. Just wanted to pass that deal to you guys.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Jenet! You know we love a deal… and hopefully other readers out there will seize the day and snatch them up at such a good price!
xo,
s
Karina says
OK this post is WONDERFUL! I’m pregnant with my fourth baby and I don’t know about the rest of the world, but here in holland we tend to deliver our babies at home. For the following 4-8 days an ‘almost-nurse’, if you will, comes to your house each day to help out with learning to care for the new baby, do check-ups and help out around the house a bit. These ladies (mine have all been ladies so far) go bananas over anti-bacterial soap and pretty much won’t let you pick up your own child if you haven’t washed your hands with it yet. I’ve never liked the stuff but one of them threatened to stop coming if I didn’t buy and use it so I caved since I could really use her help in other areas. Next time I’ll dazzle them with my new-found scientific knowledge! Just regular soap and water for my household from now on please :)
Hannah says
Fabulous post – best ever. Real life, good ole advice. Do we honestly think we are cleaner now than our parents, i don’t think so.
i love the smell of fresh, clean soap – mrs meyers is number 1 favorite…..keep up the great posts.
Val says
I totally agree. I’m a bank teller, which means I spend all day handling one of the filthiest substances on Earth — U.S. paper currency. I wash my hands frequently and I keep my hands off my face, but I try not to be overly germophobic. I use hand sanitizer occasionally, but it’s an emergency measure. As in, I just watched that guy sneeze directly into the drive-through tube before sending it to me. Or, that lady just took her wad of twenties out of her bra to give it to me. Or, I really want to eat this donut but don’t want to go all the upstairs to wash my hands.
Someone at work is a psycho about spraying “air-freshener” all over the bathroom. I get a full-out asthma attack if I go in right after the mystery-lady. I couldn’t figure out why I was having such a strong reaction, so I started poking around and it turns out what she thought was air-freshener was really Lysol SURFACE disinfectant. Basically, bleach in aerosol form. Basically, the noxious gas they weaponized during WWI. Thanks, psycho mystery-lady. I hid all of it. If you’re going to be a psycho sanitizer, at least read your labels to keep from gassing anybody.
Amy @ Renovation Innovation says
As a Doctor of Psychology, I find it very interesting to witness these kinds of contentious debates and watch the “them” vs. “us” arguments unfold as more people back one side of the argument over the other. At the end of the day, it is up to individuals to decide what is best for themselves and their families. I think Sherry and John do a great job of offering their opinions without trying to offend others who may not agree with their viewpoint.
Emmalinda says
THANK YOU! As a biologist (not a doctor or even almost) I have been preaching this information for YEARS. The same is true of many anti-bacterial cleaners for sinks/toilets/etc. Plain ol’ baking soda and white vinegar (diluted with water or not) will do the trick. And I agree–Dr. Bronner’s is the way to go.
Averill says
This is all absolutely true. My husband used to live with two microbiologists in Austin and they preached the same thing. Another fun fact: all this antibacterial nonsense is actually making allergies worse. When your immune system doesn’t have anything better to fight off, it will start to attack completely benign things (like pet dander or mold). This is all part of why the incidence of allergies has drastically increased over the past thirty years or so.
LauraC says
John and Sherry (esp Sherry) – you’ve been busy today! Two great posts with lots of discussion/interaction! Fun. I’ve known about the unnecessary-ness/harmfulness of antibacterial soap for a long time, and don’t use it. Just wanted to throw in my two cents regarding hand-sanitizer. Two places I find it necessary and convenient: when you’re backpacking, you don’t always have soap and water available after using the “bathroom” ;=) and hand-sanitizer is a life saver. The second was in our daughter’s nursery, with gobs and gobs of diaper changing for a newborn, it’s much quicker to use a couple squirts of Purell than be washing your hands (for as long as you’re supposed to) all the time. Some people may disagree, but that’s what I did, and I’ll do it again in a few months! :=)
Courtney says
great topic! I wish more people knew this about antibacterial soap. thanks for spreading the word! :D
Tracie says
I’m not an almost Dr., but I did graduate with my B.S. in Biology, and I totally agree with everything Dan told you. I actually did research about beneficial bacteria on salamander skin, so bacteria can definitely fall into the good and bad variaties. One of the reasons many people have intestinal problems when taking antibiotics, besides the fact that they can disrupt rapidly dividing human cells, is that antibiotics don’t discriminate between good and bad bacteria and kill ALL the bacteria in your gut. We NEED our gut bacteria because they produce vital nutrients, like vitakin K, that we absorb (symbiosis at work!).
Additionally, on an anti-anti-bacterial note, triclosan is actually considered an antibiotic. Triclosan used to be pretty effective at killing bacteria, which is why they put it in eveything under the sun. However, some bacteria have developed resistence to it, precisely because it is used in everything under the sun! If we want our antibiotics to work, we need to use them sparingly. That’s why there is such a kerfluffle about antibiotics being used indiscriminately in factory farming.
One more thing: if you have kids, for the love of pete, let them play in the dirt! One of the main reasons that kids today have all these food allergies and autoimmune disorders is because we’ve created an artificially antiseptic environment to live in. Human beings haven’t evolved fast enough to keep pace with the level of technology and medicine we’ve developed, and our immune systems, with nothing to attack and destroy, literally turn on our own bodies. So while it’s a good idea to wash your hands, it’s a bad idea to go nuts. It’s ok if we get sick every once in awhile! Chances are, if we’re exposed to more bacteria, we’ll develop more resistences as well and get sick less often!
Thanks for such an informational post, people besides Bio majors and almost doctors need to know this stuff!
Jamie B. says
Hi John & Sherry!
This is the first time I’ve ever read thru all of the comments, but this topic hits close to home! I’m also an almost-PhD working in microbiology (right here in Richmond :), and I’ve been frustrated for years by this. All soaps are technically “anti-bacterial” since detergents in general disrupt cell walls, so washing your hands with regular soap is perfectly acceptable – as long as you’re washing them for long enough like Dr. Mel pointed out. Don’t let some of the other responses bother you; I think some people didn’t realize that you are not advocating that people stop using soap altogether.
As for alcohol-based hand sanitizers, they are useful in moderation (an very important in places like hospitals, daycare centers, and public transportation). The concern over them causing alcohol poisoning in small children is related to consumption of large amounts. However, consuming smaller amounts can cause a very upset stomach in a toddler who sucks their fingers after a parent applies a generous amount of the sanitizer. There are a few brands of hand sanitizer available that are not alcohol-based, but that are just as effective.
Thanks for the post!
Heather says
Great post. Can Almost Dr. Dan tell us about disinfecting our homes/surfaces? Do the same rules apply for the house as the hands? Do we need a bleach product/disinfectant to clean baths, kitchens, spray doorknobs and diaper pails in order to prevent flu from spreading through our house or will a natural cleaner keep us healthy at home? I so don’t like to use a disinfectant spray but when one of my little ones get a stomach bug I throw aerosol to the wind and spray like crazy to save the rest of us. More harm than good?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Heather,
Almost-Doctor Dan, like most brainiacs, refuses to weigh in on things without proper research and a thorough understanding of the subject so because he hasn’t formally studied surface cleaners he doesn’t have any genius facts to share. We do know that we rely on naturally antibacterial products like tea-tree oil (which is proven to kill germs) to clean our entire house without fumey toxins and we have really enjoyed making the switch to pure and organic products along with homemade DIY cleaners (which we actually have a post about in the hopper). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
erin says
Awww, I grew up right around the corner from Dr. Bronner!
I am so glad you posted about this because I have been fighting my own personal battle against “antibacterial” soaps for years now. Not only are they harmful to the environment but they also contribute to the proliferation of “superbugs” – environmental adaptation at work. Regular old-fashioned soap and warm water is all you need, and it’s so much easier on your skin. This is also why I make my own soap. (Speaking of, I hope you loved it, Sherry!) Handcrafted soap is so much more environmentally and skin-friendly!
Paula Grace says
Wow, who knew? Thanks for that info. I cannot use anything but baby soap on my hands or they crack so its nice to know I am not hurting the environment. Cool!
Kate V. says
THANK YOU for your post…I work in a hospital and can’t stress enough to people that regular soap and water will prevent germs/bacteria. We now have more bacteria/germs and more harmful ones at that because of our over use of “anti” products. Why do you think we now have the H1N1 flu?
Maggie Sanchez says
Up next: To flu shot or not
The doc thinks I’m crazy for not wanting the flu shot for myself (I’m a teacher) and my kid (under 2yrs)!!!
Torey says
Actually you can use Dr. Bronner’s in your dishwasher. . . you just have to dilute it. I’ve been doing it for several weeks now with no problems. I found a recipe here.
http://www.naturemoms.com/natural-dishwasher-soap-recipe.html
Jamie Lee says
Thanks for posting this. I just passed on the info in my blog post today.
lindsey clare says
i love that you guys post about things like this. and i so agree that it’s not necessary to use harsh cleaners and anti-bac stuff! my house is clean (not spotless, but clean!) and i use nothing more than vinegar, tea tree/eucalyptus oil, and bicarb soda. i wash my hands with normal soap and i don’t get sick very often.
i must admit i do get a bit grossed out by raw meat/chicken but that’s probably more to do with my meat aversion than any actual “germs”! so it’s good to read that soap + water is good enough to clean up cooking messes.
thanks for another great post :)
Rowan says
An excellent post. I avoid using the anti-bacterial soaps for the very reasons cited. When I wash my hands I sing the song “Happy Birthday” silently until finished then rinse the soap off.
As for the person who is admonishing you for saying children can get drunk off of hand sanitizer I recommend googling the terms “sanitizer ban prison”. yeah, inmates in various states and in britain have been drinking it to get drunk. It is banned in many institutions for that very reason.
Here is one such article citing the New England Journal of Medicine and drunk inmates.
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/10/the-downside-of/
Lauren says
Love, love, love Dr. Bronner’s.
My boyfriend discovered it at a cool little boutique hotel in Austin – where they provided it as the in-room amenity kit!
Since that introduction we’ve switched to it for all our keeping-clean needs… chucking out Purell, SoftSoap, body wash, face wash & shaving foam.
I smell like marzipan & save a fortune. Score.
We even diluted some over the summer to kill aphids on our plants! (Worked like a charm).
Rachel says
How funny, I have never seen that soap in England until last night when I coincidentally bought some of the lavender one, and it smells great.
I pretty much agree with you but I do use hand sanitizer when I can’t wash my hands before I eat if I am out, or after travelling on the tube, where people sneeze and everyone has to hold on and you never know what germs you might pick up.
It’s not being washed off, so isn’t going going into the water system.
Rebekah says
This is a very informative post — thanks for posting about it! I’m eager to see your recipes for natural cleaning products!
Allison K. says
I am on board with all of that except for one case — my little phobia, salmonella. If I handle chicken or raw eggs, is regular soap enough for that as well? What say your almost doctors?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Allison K,
Good question! Both Almost-Doctor Dan and Almost-Doctor Kristin agree that even when handling food like raw chicken, good old regular soap and water is completely reliable when it comes to rinsing germs right off your hands. And the same goes for wiping down the counter (even super natural products that are 100% homemade like tea-tree oil have antibacterial properties without being damaging) so you can rest assured that there are actually eco cleansers have ingredients that sanitize extremely well, they’re just more natural instead of being man-made. In fact stay tuned for a step-by-step breakdown for whipping up some DIY cleansers that totally shine up the house without fumes or damaging chemicals. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Steph says
This is really interesting, thanks for posting it.
And COMPLETELY OT, but Almost-Doctor-Dan is a definite cutie!
Amy Y. says
John and Sherry- I have really enjoyed this discussion, and it’s the only time I have ever been accused of something as interesting as fear-mongering:). I guess that is appropriate for Halloween, LOL. I should have qualified my previous comments with the fact that we use mostly water based hand sanitizers. We also have heard about the alcohol concerns from our city health department which licenses our son’s preschool. They don’t allow any hand sanitizers at all in preschools here if they want to be a licensed facility, so we all huddle in the school bathroom to wash hands as we sing Happy Birthday for a timer, LOL. Like Almost-Dr. Dan our little ones are using just soap and water. No illnesses yet-knock wood. Also, no flu for all of last year either in any of our 30 families.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy Y,
Thanks so much for checking back in with us! It’s extremely interesting that your health department/city has banned hand sanitizers in all preschools that are licensed due to the alcohol concern! And so glad to hear that the plain old soap and water method is working like a charm for you and those 29 other families!
xo,
s
Ms. Bright says
What a great post! I’m a firm believer that getting rid of all the bacteria can acutally cause a bit of harm. The 2 people that I know who religiously use the purell and lysol are the 2 people who wind up at the doctor or sick with something ALL THE TIME. I’ve tried to tell ’em, you need some germs to build up your immunity!
Great posting guys!
Torey says
Quick question. . . do you use Bronner’s straight in your handsoap dispensers? B/c from reading the bottle it seems like they recommend to dilute it for pretty much everything. I usually just put a tablespoon or two in my dispenser and add hot water. Yes it’s pretty liquidy (is that a word) when you squirt it, but it still has some suds. I have used this to clean dirty makeup sponges and it is amazing. Just a squirt or two and run it under water. . . without even scrubbing the old makeup is instantly gone (the sponge is completely white again). Just shows you how powerful Bronner’s is. . .even diluted.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Torey,
We do use our Dr. Bronner’s right from the soap dispensers (although we sometimes add some water when we refill them to stretch our soap even further since it’s recommended on the bottle). We find that sometimes the dispensers can clog a bit (as also mentioned on the bottle) so we use the end of a paper clip to poke the end of the dispenser and get the flow going again on about a weekly basis (whenever we’re doing other bathroom maintenance). It’s certainly a little extra step, but it’s one that we don’t mind because it only takes a second and keeps our favorite soap coming. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
prettythings says
Wow, so many voices weighing in! I’m glad we’re not the only ones to sing “Happy Birthday” when hand washing. :)
A question for everyone: Do you take off your rings when you wash your hands? I do, except when I’m in a public bathroom.
Kelly says
I’m very much looking forward to your DIY cleaning post, I’ve been wondering lately what’s the safest, most effective “all-purpose” type cleanser out there. I’d also love to know what type of pesticides almost-dr.dan would recommend. I have an herb garden that’s constantly attracting fruit flies and the like, and I’m loathe to spray anything that might be toxic on them (especially since they’re in the house!).
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kelly,
Glad you’re looking forward to our DIY cleaning post! And as for the pesticide question, Almost-Doctor Dan, like most brainiacs, refuses to weigh in on things without proper research and a thorough understanding of the subject so because he hasn’t formally studied pesticides he doesn’t have any genius facts to share. Maybe there are some natural remedies you can google (like using a mild soap like Dr. Bronners on the leaves so it doesn’t hurt the plants but gets rid of the pests?). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Seraph says
To the people freaking out over Almost-Doctor Dan not being qualified to give advice–
My dad -is- a health care provider (optometrist, specifically) and he has mandated that no antibacterial be used in the office. He washes his thoroughly with soap and hot water before every patient. It works just fine and he doesn’t have to feel guilty about harming the environment or breeding drug-resistant bacteria.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Seraph,
I think it was only one person who mentioned that they questioned Almost-Doctor Dan’s certifications (just to be clear, I don’t want Almost-Doctor Dan feeling ganged up on- especially when he’s seriously the genius of our day!). And it appears that now that we’ve had a slew of Actual-Doctors weighing in and agreeing with him (see Melanie and Cici’s comments – who are speaking for full fledged doctors) we’re happy that he’s in good fully-qualified company! Thanks so much for adding an optometrist to the list of anti-antibacterial advocates!
xo,
Sherry
Andrew says
Thank you for this very informative and thought-provoking post. I am certainly reconsidering my use of anti-bacterial now!
Perhaps another area to consider seeking Almost-Doctor Dan’s insight on is the alleged ecological damage from the the birth control pill.
The moral question over the use of birth control certainly generates much disagreement, but the potential damage it is inflicting on our environment should cause all of us to pause.
http://www.thecatholicthing.org/content/view/2276/2/
smilinggreenmom says
Nope-you are not the only ones! I sing Happy Birthday too :) as do our kids! LOL. I agree about all of this and just love your post. Awesome. I especially love how you talked about the good bacteria! I don’t think that some people know or understand that just as we have the bad ones, we have good ones too…that we really need! Our family takes Vidazorb chewable probiotics after they helped our son’s food allergies and Eczema so much. Now we all take them and love them for so many reasons. I am making sure that we get them every single day to keep our beneficial bacteria in tip-top shape for this flu season!
tiffany says
Thank you so much for the post and I’ve gotta tell you I was one of those girls that swore if it didn’t smell like bleach and get your head swimming, then it didn’t really work. But after some research I found that I didn’t have to go through the headaches and dizziness all for the sake of cleanliness..natural is better on all levels..health, cleanliness, environment, what’s not to love?
Jessica Fulkerson O'Brien says
Thank you so much for this post! People think I’m crazy when I share the same news ;)
If you’re cool with supporting another small business, I wanted to throw it out that my husband’s store (www.thegreenlifeco.) not only carries Bronners (peppermint is my favorite: http://www.thegreenlifecostore.com/m8_view_item.html?m8:item=977), but a ton of other hardworking, delicious-smelling soaps! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the url Jessica! We’ll definitely poke around!
xo,
s
Olga says
Psst – if you have visitors (or busy-body relatives) who make a stink about needing antibacterial handsoap or dishwashing liquid, you can simply use your natural liquid soap to refill the old containers (marked as anti-bacterial) if you have any. Sneaky, I know, but sometimes it’s easier than trying to argue stubborn people. It may be helpful to the mom with the visiting home nurse too. ;)
Grace Boone says
Love love love this post! Thank you! You wrote it so eloquently too! I was just talking about this recently with my friend who is a school teacher. Thank you!
Kari says
Thanks for posting this. It makes me crazy to see people use antibacterial stuff everywhere. The overuse of such products is far riskier that good old soap and water and good hand-washing techniques. American germophobia is really out of control.