Whatever month you find yourself in, quality antibacterial hand soap can help prevent the spread of germs and harmful bacteria can help keep your family illness free. A cold or the flu can stick around for weeks making you feel under the weather for what seems like an age so anything you can do to keep bugs away is worth trying.
The best antibacterial hand soaps can be effective by killing up to 99.99% of germs and when you find a quality brand you can see a massive difference in how often your family members get sick compared to last year. This being said, some products make bold claims but aren’t as effective as others so to help you find a product that works, we have created a list of the best available.
Quick Summary of Antibacterial Hand Soap
Reviews
Defense Soap 4 Ounce Bar (Pack of 2) – 100% Natural
The antibacterial properties in this formula come from Tea Tree Oil which has been proven to be tough on bacteria and germs. With the addition of eucalyptus oil, it also manages to remain anti-inflammatory but it is what it does in the world of sport that makes it such a popular product. The ingredients combine to make it tough on dirt, grime, smog, built-up oils, allergens, sweat, and a lot more.
The hand bar soap is ergonomically shaped to make it easy to handle and it is also hypoallergenic and safe to use. It has been triple-milled to ensure its consistency and more importantly, it is free-from triclosan, dyes, fragrances, cosmetics, alcohol and more. Made from natural ingredients, yet it still manages to be tough on germs making it our number one choice.
- Hypoallergenic and made from natural ingredients
- Contains pharmaceutical grade tea tree oil
- Ergonimic soap bar shape
- Free from dyes, fragrances, triclosan, and more
Aromavita Oregano Oil Soap – Natural Plant Therapy Hand Soap
When you see the words handmade it tends to grab your attention but the fact that antibacterial hand soap bar is natural is even more impressive. It contains greek oregano oil and softens the skin leaving it with a fresh scent that isn’t overpowering.
The formula is gentle but effective at killing bacteria and can be used for washing hands as well as treating acne, athletes foot, body odor, problem skin, and a lot more. What is also great about this product is what it doesn’t contain. There are no parabens, SLS, synthetic fragrances or colors and it is also ono-GMO and vegan-friendly. It is the 3% oregano oil content that works to destroy bacteria and keep hands fresh, clean, and free from germs.
- Has many uses
- Does not contain parabens, SLS or snythetic colors/fragrances
- 3% oregano oil kills bacteria
- Not everyone wants a soap bar
Dial Antibacterial Hand Soap, 52 ounce Refill and 7.5 ounce Pump (Spring Water)
A popular antibacterial hand soap and one that won’t dry out hands. This is because of the added moisturizers in this pack that contains a large 1.43-litre refill bottle and normal-sized hand pump that allows you to clean your hands with ease.
The spring water scent is one of the most pleasant and a lot of people associate it with Dial. One of its best attributes is that it does not contain added perfume and the tough formula is great for washing away dirt that can stick around and house bacteria. It has everything you need to keep your family germ free for a long time because it is fine for young hands and kills 99.9% of bacteria.
- Includes large refill and pump bottle
- Pleasant smell
- Contains moisturizers
- Kills 99.9% bacteria
- Can be difficult to pour into the pump bottle
Safeguard Antibacterial Soap
The 24 bar pack gives you enough antibacterial power to last years meaning it can keep the family free-from illness for a long time. They say it washes away bacteria so being able to always have a bar to hand is a real bonus, especially in the winter months where every other person around you seems to be wiping their nose or sneezing.
It kills 99% of bacteria and has a clean fragrance meaning it doesn’t have that typical lab soap scent. The fact that it contains fragrance among other ingredients means the formula might be a little strong for young skin but it is a strong formula for adults to use when you need to kill the germs on your hands.
- Great value
- Kills 99% of bacteria
- Not as natural as other products
CleanWell Foaming Hand Soap, Spearmint Lime
It’s easy to love the fresh spearmint lime scent of this effective antibacterial hand soap and it is the essential oils that you can thank for that. The soap foams making it fun for kids but ensures that you get an excellent lather when washing all parts of your hands.
There are no parabens or triclosan and it does not contain benzalkonium chloride which is part of the reason it can call itself plant-based and biodegradable. With no alcohol in the solution, it won’t dry out your hands so it is fine for those with sensitive skin. This pack of 4 is the best way of ensuring you get a quality antibacterial hand soap by every sink in your house.
- Pleasant scent from the essential oils
- No parabens or alcohol
- Biodegradable
- Some people say they have to use a lot of it
Antibacterial Hand Soap Guide
The word antibacterial is a little controversial when it comes to hand soap as a lot of people argue that regular soap should be capable of killing germs and bacteria. Still, for a lot of people, it is a way of knowing the product they choose is going to give them some protection against colds and flu.
This is only possible when you know what to expect from a quality product. This is why we have created the following buyer’s guide, to make sure you get an effective product to keep your hands bacteria-free.
What To Look For In Antibacterial Hand Soap
Natural Ingredients
Not every product is going to be as good as this but there are certain ingredients such as tea tree oil that have been proven to have excellent antibacterial properties. The issue is, to call itself an anti-bacterial product, the company must include certain ingredients and these are often less friendly on the skin such as alcohol or triclosan.
Effectiveness
Many brands include information about how effective their products. This might be in the form of telling you what percentage of germs theirs kills (99% and above please) or just by explaining why the effective ingredients work so well. You need to know that when you rinse it from your hands, it is going to kill most of the nasties that lead to illness.
Ease of Use
You can get antibacterial hand soap in a variety of forms so it doesn’t matter if your preference is to use a product that comes in a pump-action bottle or an ergonomically shaped soap bar, it should be easy to get onto your palms and between your fingers.
Moisturizing
The best antibacterial hand soaps will either be moisturizing or anti-dryness. Many products contain the likes of alcohol and although it is effective at killing bacteria, it can dry out the skin. If this is the case, it can be beneficial to find a product that contains moisturizing ingredients as part of their formula.
Variety of Uses
This won’t be the primary reason to buy an antibacterial hand soap but if you can find a product that is also fine to use on your face and other parts of your body you can put it to good use. There are plenty of brands that ensure it can be used to treat acne, athletes’ foot, and built-up oil among other uses.
Pleasant Scent
It is always best to try and find an antibacterial hand soap that does not contain a fragrance but instead has a scent that comes from natural sources. This prevents it from irritating the skin as some people who suffer from sensitivities in this area will find that fragrance doesn’t help their allergies.
Alcohol-Free
Although this can be one of the more effective antibacterial ingredients in these types of soaps, not everyone reacts well to them. Not only can they dry the skin (especially in the colder months) but this can mean it isn’t as suitable for the whole family.
If you do choose a product that contains alcohol as the active antibacterial ingredient, then it needs to be 60% and above to be effective.
Cruelty-Free
Not every brand discloses this information which can be a worrying sign although it doesn’t necessarily mean it is going to test on animals. A lot of people do their research when it comes to seeing how cruelty-free a soap is and the information isn’t hard to find.
No Nasties
Although this covers a wide range of harmful, toxic ingredients there are some usual suspects that you need to look out for. A lot of products will tell you theirs is free-from parabens, SLS, dyes, artificial fragrances, and colors, but also the active ingredients of other antibacterial hand soaps. These include triclosan, alcohol and benzalkonium chloride to make up some of the most common.
Is Antibacterial Soap Safe?
If used in the way it is intended then antibacterial hand soap can be very effective at killing germs and bacteria but also completely safe. The main concern is in overuse because this can harm the useful bacteria and lead to a lack of immunity against superbugs. This is only when the product uses harmful chemicals in its formula.
In the place of these chemicals, look for a product that uses tea tree oil, olive oil, or other natural ingredients instead.
How Long Should I Leave Soap On My Hands Before Rinsing?
It might sound excessive but a lot of the most reputable antibacterial hand soap brands recommend leaving the soap on your hands for 2-3 minutes before rinsing. This is to get the maximum antibacterial effect.
Antibacterial Soap Vs Regular Hand Soap
There are different types of antibacterial soap available and whilst the most common active ingredient is triclosan there are a few others that pop up including alcohol and benzalkonium chloride.
A lot of regular soap contains antibacterial ingredients to ensure they can claim they kill a certain amount of germs and bacteria so what are the major differences between the two?
Antibacterial Soap
You will often find antibacterial hand soap in hospitals and doctors surgeries where the patients might have weakened immune systems and there is a heightened amount of germs and bacteria around. Any product with around 60% or above alcohol in the formula can be effective.
The downside is that certain organizations such as the FDA advise that there isn’t sufficient evidence to show that antibacterial products are more effective than regular hand soaps. This means a lot of brands must be proven theirs contain certain active ingredients that are both safe and effective before they can label themselves as antibacterial. Also, using antibacterial products too frequently can harm the useful bacteria on your hands and lessen your immunity against new superbugs.
Regular Hand Soap
A lot of the time you will find they are cheaper than antibacterial products without there being any difference in how effective they are. The major benefit of regular hand soap is that it won’t kill the good bacteria but many users don’t use enough for it to be effective.
