Do you think it's a good thing to use anti-bacterial dish soap?

Question

or is regular dish soap good enough.

For so many years all we had was regular dish soap, I never heard of any problems with bacteria.

What do you think.

Answer 1

NO!!!! In fact it does the opposite of what you want a soap to do. Killing germs is a good thing, but your body needs and has two types-good and bad bacteria. Good bacteria fights the bad bacteria. Regular soap and water is great for general cleaning and the removal of germs that can cause infectious diseases. However, studies show the use of anti-bacterial soaps, anti-bacterial gels, and the over use of antibiotics as potentially dangerous to our society. These products effect our immune system and our natural ability to fight basically harmless diseases, but more importantly, diseases can also mutate to more dangerous "super germs" that are immune to antibiotics and anti-bacterials, thus making your anti-bacterial soap almost obsolete in the future.

Answer 2

Back in college this was one of the thesis topic among my classmates, majoring Biology. The study was the effectivity of antibacterial dishwashing soap available in the market with regular ones. It turned out there is a comparable difference. Certain brands of a regular dishwashing soaps alone have different effectivity level on washing off the bacteria and so as the antibacterial dishwashing soap.

The antibacterial dishwashing soaps had about 70% - 85% effectivity of killing bacterias, NOT 99.9% that most claim in there advertisements. What most consumer should have worry about really is how long will a dish be bacteria free, that it is considered safe to use after washed/dried and stored.

By the way, that Science thesis study is conducted here in the Philippines.

Answer 3

Actually, you will do more harm than good by using an antibacterial dish soap. Two reasons: just like antibacterial drugs, the chemical that's in these soaps are indiscriminate--they kill GOOD bacteria along with the bad. AND they contribute to the growth of resistant bacteria (they're very smart little buggers). The second reason is that you're introducing more chemicals into our environment, and it's already got more than it can handle.
So stick with regular soap and hot water, and you'll do your skin and the earth a favor! But look at ingredients before you buy any soap: triclosan and triclocarban are common antibacterials put in soaps, and they're not necessarily advertised as "antibacterial". Triclosan has a well-established toxicity.
Peace and health,
ElenaMaria

Answer 4

Regular dish soap is fine. Manufacturers are banking on a growing phobia of bacteria and an ever-increasing use of anti-microbial products. Now, on the other hand, the hot water in dishwashers are the best sanitizing agent. If washing by hand, and not using very hot water, the detergent action of the soap is usually sufficient to disrupt most bacterial cell walls. But particularly dirty or infected kitchens may have a tougher time with bacteria.

My answer to that is, however, soak the dishes in hot scalding water prior to washing. Cheaper, and don't need anything anti-microbial

As to the whole "Super Bug" worry, that has to do with over use of anti-biotics, not anti-bacterials or anti-microbials. Big difference.

Answer 5

Washing the meat with soap and hot water is totally unnecessary. Rinse the meat with cold water (warm or hot water is creating an environment that is perfect for bacteria to live in). Soap is not necessary as it will leave a foul taste on the meat. Keep your cooking area clean. Wash hands and utensils well. Cook meats to an internal temperature that is considered safe by USDA standards. Keep raw meat refrigerated and in a clean container. Unless you are eating 'road kill" or meats obtained from an unclean source, your preparation is not safe nor appetizing. I too agree with Joanne and Libbyami....do yourself a favor and become a vegetarian before you make yourself and others ill.

Answer 6

Use regular dish soap. The overuse of antibacterials is exactly what is causing the current epidemic of 'super' bugs, like the extremely ab resistant strain of ecoli or c-diff.

Answer 7

I always add a little bleach to my dish water. Good for keeping germs from recycling around the family.

Answer 8

Yes. You wouldn't hear anything about problems with bacteria but you might have had the runs once or twice.

As it doesn't cost more, I feel better having the extra protection.

Answer 9

Couldnt hurt. On the other hand a little dirt doesn' hurt either.

Answer 10

YA I THINK ITS GOOD BECAUSE IT KILLS THE GURMS ON U HANDS THEN IT WILL KILL THE GURMS ON THE DISHES