Is Your Soap Making You Dirtier?

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Amy Paturel, SELF magazine

We've been told over and over again that frequent and thorough hand-washing is the single most important thing we can do to stay healthy.

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, we should be scrubbing our hands with soap and warm water for 15-20 seconds -- about the time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice -- several times a day.

But what if all of that hand-washing is actually spreading more bacteria -- not less?

Recent studies show that about one in four soap dispensers in public restrooms are contaminated with up to 15 strains of potentially harmful bacteria. Now, a new study published in the Journal of Applied and Environmental Biology confirms these findings, showing that every soap dispenser at an Ohio elementary school was contaminated with bacteria.

Related: 4 Ways to Avoid Gym Germs

"If you leave soap in a dispenser for long enough, bacteria can grow just as it would anywhere else," says Amy Hendel, author of The 4 Habits of Healthy Families.
What's more, she explains, many bathrooms in gyms and other public facilities aren't appropriately cleaned. Seals on the dispensers get loose or broken, janitors who have dirty hands refill the dispensers and the end result is contaminated suds.

According to the study authors, refillable dispensers are more prone to bacterial contamination, since topping off a partially empty soap dispenser can cause contamination. So when kids and staff scrubbed their hands after using refillable dispensers, the microbe levels on their hands soared. In fact, they had 26 times more bacteria on their hands after washing than before.
"In contrast," write the authors, "washing with soap from dispensers with sealed refills significantly reduced bacteria on hands."

See Also: The No. 1 Way You Bring Germs into Your Home

Why? Sealed soap dispensing systems are typically refilled by inserting a new bag or cartridge of soap (with a new nozzle) into the dispenser. Unfortunately, when you visit the restroom at a beach, park or movie theater, refillable dispensers usually greet you at the sink.

But while it's pretty nasty to imagine billions of bugs lurking in your soap, researchers aren't clear about whether or not they actually pose any risk. So until more research is done, always wash with soap and water before eating a meal or touching your mouth, nose and eyes, and after visiting the toilet.

Want to be extra vigilant? Hendel recommends carrying a small bottle of liquid soap with you for personal use, especially if you're preggers or otherwise immune-compromised. Just be sure to choose regular everyday soap over antibacterial versions or alcohol-based sanitizers, which have been linked to reduced immunity and antibiotic resistance.

How do you stay germ-free?

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