The other hot point is exposure to allergens ranging from dust to pollen to cat dander, especially among young kids. Dr. Stuart Levy of Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston is a highly outspoken critic of new antibacterial soaps and cleansers. The argument is simple enough. Levy said household standbys such as chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide and alcohol are antibacterial cleaners, but once you use them, they vanish. The newer synthetic products leave a residue to kill bacteria for an extended period, not allowing the good bacteria to re-establish themselves.
Good bacteria are vital for the intestinal tract, fighting off germs.
They also help the body make vitamins and protect it at the mouth and skin layer. They help our intestinal tract mature, and they help our immune system mature. Levy explained that antibacterial soaps have no proven benefit over mild soap and water. He recommends using stronger hand cleansers only when someone in the household is seriously ill or has lowered immunity. Wiping hands on a paper towel might even be most important, he said, even if your hand washing is shorter than the optimal half-minute.