Beware of Anti-Bacterial Soaps

Why are so many commercial products bought and produced by adding bacteriocide Triclosan? bacter-what you say? ... Think anti-bacterial soaps or personal care items that proclaim the equivalent of ‘Kills Bacteria On Contact,’ or, ‘Kills the Germs That Cause Bad Breath.’

The claims sound great but the triclosan in antibacterial soaps and cleaners are a gender bender that is disrupting the natural growth of frogs and was found in 55% of the rivers and streams in America is 2002.

As far as I'm concerned the age old quote that states "soap and water and common sense are the best disinfectants" says it all. We don't need to be washing with triclosan. But don't just take my word for it. Molecular biologist John Gustafson of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces says:

"What is this stuff doing in households when we have soaps? These substances really belong in hospitals and clinics, not in the homes of healthy people." - Scientific American

Moreover, Scientific American teaches us that triclosan does more harm than good. It appears that after, say, spraying a counter with an antibiotic cleaner, some chemicals linger and continue to kill bacteria but don't get all of them. The ones that survive develop a tolerance: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" Soon we have populations of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Thankfully everyone can find a handmade soap maker (usually in their own community!) that still makes soap from scratch with the purest ingredients. If you haven't switched to handmade soap yet, now is a great time! Your skin (and the tadpoles) with thank you :)