Soap & Cleansers

Lifting oil off skin

What's in soap & Cleansers, and how does it work?

Surfactants surround oils and dirt so water can rinse them away. Plain soap and water remove germs from hands very effectively.

How it works

One end of a surfactant loves water, the other loves oil; together they lift grime and microbes off skin.

Antibacterial soap

The FDA found no evidence consumer antibacterial soaps work better than plain soap, and removed triclosan and 18 other ingredients from them in 2016.

Practical

Wash for at least 20 seconds.

Evidence & sources

• There isn't enough science to show over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. Evidence: regulatory. Known: FDA rule after manufacturers failed to show safety and benefit. Unknown: — Source: US FDA, Antibacterial Soap? You Can Skip It, Use Plain Soap and Water (2016).

Connected topics

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Skin Barrier
• Skin
• Shampoo

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General education only, not medical advice. Drafted Oct 2026 · pending qualified expert review.