Is Antibacterial Soap Any BetterThan Regular Soap?
01 August 2001.From HowStuffWorks.com

It seems like everything is "antibacterial" these days. About 75 percent of liquid soaps currently on shelves in American grocery stores display that word on their labels, and we are constantly adding new antibacterial products to our cleansing arsenals. So are we cleaner now than ever before? Some experts say no. First let's take a look at how soap works on a chemical level. To make soap, you need to combine an acid and a base (or alkali). The acid is fat (fatty acids and triglycerides), and the base is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The mixture causes the fatty acids to separate from the triglycerides and fuse with the hydroxide ions, forming a salt that we call "soap."
Soap has two main functions:
Decrease water's surface tension
Bind to dirt, oil and bacteria

It can do these things because one part of the soap molecule is hydrophilic (water-binding) and the other is hydrophobic (water-repellent). The hydrophilic part allows the hydrophobic fatty acids to come into contact with other hydrophobic substances, such as the dirt on the surface that is being cleaned.

When the grime adheres to the soap's fatty acids, it becomes encapsulated in droplets of water. Dirt, oil and bacteria are easily scrubbed off and washed away in this suspended state. So ordinary soap does get rid of bacteria. Most liquid soaps in America are now antibacterial. But does antibacterial soap get rid of even more? Possibly. But there are several main points to consider in our antibacterial craze:
The antibacterial components of soaps (usually triclosan or, less commonly, triclocarbon) need to be left on a surface for about two minutes in order to work. Most people are not this patient, and end up washing off the soap before the antibacterial ingredients can do their job.

Some scientists theorize that bacteria may develop a resistance to bactericidal agents over time. Some bacteria actually benefit us. The normal population of bacteria on our bodies not only eats our sweat, but also helps defend us against truly harmful, invasive bacteria. Many common diseases are viral in nature, anyway, and are therefore not prevented by antibacterial products.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibacterial soaps are not necessary, but washing your hands thoroughly with ordinary soap and warm water is one of the most effective ways to ward off infection.

Local Sonoma Resource: Marcus Willers Architects

We want to introduce Marcus Willers Architects, our local associates in Sonoma Green Building. We really appreciate their work. Their project was featured in the recent Sonoma Build It Green Tour!

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Healthy homes - beautifully designed using environmentally safe construction materials and techniques.

If you want a to build a green, healthy home for your family without sacrificing elegance and comfort, the good news is that it can be done. Using the newest materials and technology, intelligent design melds aesthetic considerations with resource-efficient construction, resulting in a home that protects the health of its occupants, supports sustainable building practices, and looks elegant and beautiful.

On their Web site you will find a wealth of infomation about creating such a home, links about construction materials, techniques and suppliers, all provided by Marcus and Willers Architects, specialists in the design and creation of healthy homes of exceptional beauty and refinement.

http://thehealthyhome.net/index.php

Some Facts About Toxic Cleaning Chemicals

Household Chemicals Pose a Significant Threat to the Health and Safety of Families, Particularly to Children.

We all need to realize how many chemicals we expose ourselves and our families to every day, and take steps to create a healthier environment in our homes.

CONSIDER THESE FACTS:

• The Average American Uses about 25 Gallons of toxic, hazardous chemical products per year in their home... A major portion of these can be found in household cleaning products.
• More than 32 million pounds of household cleaning products are poured down the drain each day nationwide. Sewage treatment plants do not adequately remove the toxic substances found in many of their sites.
• Within 26 seconds after exposure to chemicals such as cleaning products , traces of these chemicals can be found in every organ in the body.
• Petrochemical cleaning products in the home are easily absorbed into the skin. Once absorbed, the toxins travel to the blood stream and are deposited in the fatty tissues where they may exist indefinitely.
• At any given time, there is 3.36 million tons of household hazardous waste to contend with in our country.
• According to the National Research Council, no toxic information is available for more than 80% of the chemicals in everyday-use products. Only 1% of toxins are required to be listed on labels, because companies classify their formulas as "trade secrets."
• The toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three times more likely to cause cancer than air pollution.

Please visit our Web site for the safer alternatives available! -- CLEAN SOLUTIONS

Article Sources:
CHEC (Children's Health Environmental Coalition)

North American Hazardous Materials Management Association (NAHMMA)

Comments From Our Customers

Thanks so much for introducing me to CLEAN SOLUTIONS products. I love my gleaming counter tops and feel absolutely no guilt having my children clean the bathrooms using non-toxic products. We use the products at our business too, for a more healthful environment for our employees.
- Mary

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The products from Clean Solutions work great! I love the microfiber dusting cloths. They work like magic all by themselves on wood, glass and tile. Everything shines so nicely and with a lot less effort than my old cleaning products. I am a convert!
- Lori

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Visit us online at www.cleansolutions.biz for easy ordering of everything you need to get started with Green Cleaning in your home.