What exactly makes BBW hand soap anti-bacterial. Is it just because when you wash your hands you wash off the bacteria? Or do they put something in their soap to turn it into an anti-bacterial product?
It can be both. Soap is antibacterial, something to the tune of 98%. I suspect that their liquid detergent isn't really soap but a liquid product that also has an antibacterial agent in it. Did you read the ingredient listing? What does it say?
Catherine, if you do a little research -- something fun like cruising the soap aisle at your grocery store or drug store, you will learn that commercial "antibacterial" liquid soaps have a high alcohol content -- 60% or more. NOT a good thing! While alcohol does kill the nasties on your hands, we carry "good" bacteria that is very important to maintaining our immune systems that gets wiped out along with the "bad" bacteria.
Washing hands with regular soap for 15-20 seconds, making sure to get the front, back, and between the fingers, is far more effective and longer lasting. Source: Google Antibacterial soap vs. regular soap.
I recently read something about antibacterial soap (actually not soap but commercial detergents) and what I found interesting was the chemical they use to make it antibacterial is only effective if left on for 10-15 minutes. So for hand or dishwashing, it really isn't effective as an antibacterial at all. Talk about misbranding, heh?
It seems that any research I have done on anti-bacterial soaps and hand sanitizers comes up all negative. So maybe I will just stick to soap and wash for 20 seconds.
This is the concept of selling the sizzle and not the steak.
Soap is antibacterial. And we need to remember that. It is actually a good idea to sing the ABC's as a regular tune, not on fast, while scrubbing with soap. Then rinse.
I also think it's the concept of who has the most money. I've been reading Marie Gale's book on cosmetic labeling and it should be construed as misbranding if that fact isn't listed on the label under "usage."
Actually soap being naturally antibacterial is a great selling point, especially with flu season upon us.