Clean, Non-Toxic Hand Soap For The Whole Family

Swap hand soaps with undisclosed fragrance and harsh preservatives for safer, non-toxic options. I reviewed 8 clean and non-toxic hand soap brands that are free from parabens, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals, and there’s something for everyone in the family!

washing hands

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House rules are different for every family. For mine, removing shoes and washing hands upon entering are 2 policies I always enforce. The hand washing rule extends beyond just entering the house, and I’m sure everyone in my family washes their hands many times a day (I hope?).

With all of the hand washing going on, I want the hand soap my family uses to be free from ingredients that may be harmful to our health, including undisclosed fragrances and parabens used as preservatives. I tested 8 brands of clean, non-toxic hand soap to see how well they produced suds and moisturized. Keep reading to find out how well each hand soap brand performed. If you’re looking to go more eco-friendly in your home, non-toxic bar soap is a great option. But first, let’s talk about how to properly wash your hands.

instructions for washing your hands

When To Wash Your Hands

The CDC recommends washing your hands before, during and/or after these tasks (I added the first one):

  • When you come home from any public place (running errands, hanging out with friends, school, etc.)
  • Before, during, and after preparing food
  • Before eating food
  • Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
  • Before and after treating a cut or wound
  • After using the toilet
  • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
  • After handling pet food or pet treats
  • After touching garbage

I personally prefer to use fragrance-free hand soap because I find it to be less irritating. My daughter gets very painful eczema on her hands every winter, and we love Attitude Sensitive Natural Unscented Hand Soap. I do realize that some people love scented hand soap, so I have included some brands that use pure essential oils, and one brand that uses safer synthetic scents that are EWG verified.

Beyond hand soap, look for non-toxic body wash to keep you skin clean and grime-free without harmful chemicals. After hand and body washing, use a non-toxic body lotion to moisturize your skin.

Hand soap seems simple, but the ingredients you wash with every day really do matter. Scroll to the end of this post for ingredients to avoid in hand soap.

hand soap

By switching to non-toxic options, you can avoid harmful chemicals and undisclosed fragrance while keeping your hands clean and your skin healthy. It’s one of the easiest swaps you can make for a safer home, and there are great options out there for every budget and preference. Look below for the non-toxic hand soap that I recommend.

hand soap

Kosmatology

Kosmatology Foaming Hand Soap

  • Cost | $9.99 for 8.5 oz ($1.18 per ounce)
  • Scents | Lavender Eucalyptus, Spearmint Rosemary, Orange, Grapefruit
  • Refill Option | Kosmatology 34 ounce refill
  • My Thoughts | This hand soap is really nice- it has a luxurious lather and is not drying.
  • From the Kosmatology website | This foaming hand soap is made using only the highest quality organic oils, such as coconut, olive, and safflower. The scents come from a blend of organic essential oils. No thickening agents, perfumes or triclosan are used, and the pumps create a thick foam that’s perfect for adults and children alike.
  • Shop | Kosmatology Foaming Hand Soap

hand soap

Attitude

Attitude Sensitive Natural Hand Soap

hand soap

Dr. Bronner’s

Dr. Bronner’s Organic Sugar Soap

  • Cost | $20.99 for 24 oz ($0.87)
  • Scents | Lavender, Lemongrass Lime, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Baby Unscented
  • Refill Option | Dr. Bronner’s ½ gallon refill
  • My Thoughts | An all-around great hand soap!
  • From the Dr. Bronner’s website | Fair trade & organic sugar and organic white grape juice keep your skin nourished, hydrated and smooth. Organic coconut-olive-hemp oils blend for a creamy castile lather!
  • Shop | Dr. Bronner’s Organic Sugar Soap

hand soap

Branch Basics

Branch Basics Hand Soap

  • Cost | $45 for 16 oz ($2.81 per ounce)
  • Scents | Fragrance-free
  • Refill Option | Branch Basics 32 ounce refill
  • From the Branch Basics website | Consciously crafted for the whole family using healthy ingredients like aloe, chamomile, and meadowfoam oil to soothe and hydrate skin with every wash. The glass bottle is refillable.
  • Shop | Branch Basics Hand Soap

hand soap

Koala Eco

Koala Eco Hand Wash

  • Cost | $17 for 16 oz ($1.06 per ounce)
  • Scents | Lemon Eucalyptus & Rosemary
  • Refill Option | Koala Eco 33.8 ounce refill
  • From the Koala Eco website | Our Lemon Scented Eucalyptus & Rosemary Hand Wash combines nature’s most aromatic botanicals in one powerful and sensorial formula, effortlessly cleansing your hands.
  • Shop | Koala Eco Hand Wash

hand soap

Babo Botanicals

Babo Botanicals Foaming Hand Soap

  • Cost | $9.50 for 8 oz ($1.19 per ounce)
  • Scents | Fragrance Free
  • Refill Option | No
  • From the Babo Botanicals website | Meet the softest fragrance-free hand soap! The Sensitive Baby Fragrance-Free Foam Hand Soap gently cleanses, moisturizes, and protects delicate skin.
  • Shop | Babo Botanicals Foaming Hand Soap

hand soap

Earth Mama

Earth Mama Hand & Body Wash

  • Cost | $9.99 for 5.3 oz ($1.88 per ounce)
  • Scents | Peppermint
  • Refill Option | No
  • From the Earth Mama website | This castile-based minty fresh soap is made with organic oils, including organic peppermint oil & coconut oil, that can be used safely by the whole family and beyond.
  • Shop | Earth Mama Hand & Body Wash

hand soap

Primally Pure

Primally Pure Hand Soap

  • Cost | $44 for 6.8 oz ($6.47 per ounce)
  • Scents | Warm Citrus Spice, Cool Citrus Breeze, Sweet Floral Sage, Crisp Smoky Woods,
  • Refill Option | No
  • From the Primally Pure website | Gently cleanse and instill a sense of warmth and wellness every time you wash your hands. This hand soap detoxifies your skin and delivers wildcrafted nutrients that are ripe with antibacterial, antiviral and antiseptic properties to powerfully protect your health.
  • Shop | Primally Pure Hand Soap

hand soap

Sonett

Sonett Hand Soap

  • Cost | $11.99 for 10 oz ($1.20 per ounce)
  • Scents | Fragrance-Free, Lavender, Rose, Calendula, Rosemary
  • Refill Option | Sonett 338 ounce refill
  • My Thoughts | I love that they offer a sensitive hand soap version with no fragrance!
  • From the Sonett website | Made from 100% certified organic plant-based ingredients, this soap is free from synthetic fragrances, dyes, and harsh chemicals.
  • Shop | Sonett Hand Soap

Hand Washing Tips

  • Any temperature of water (hot, warm or cold) is fine for properly washing your hands. Soap works by rupturing the lipid membrane of most types of viruses and bacteria. Soap also breaks the chemical bonds between a surface (your hand) and the offending virus or bacteria. Rinsing your hands under running water then removes the bacteria and viruses from your hands.
  • Hand washing is more effective than just using hand sanitizer. However, if you aren’t able to wash your hands, you should definitely use hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethyl alcohol (ethanol). Our family favorite hand sanitizer is Honest Free & Clear Hand Sanitizer. It moisturizes as it disinfects with 62% ethyl alcohol.
  • When you wash your hands, lather up all parts of your hands. Don’t forget your fingertips, thumbs, the backs of your hands and your palms. Give them a good scrub for 20 seconds before rinsing off all of the soap.
  • Keep a container of lotion next to the sink and apply after you wash your hands. This helps to keep your hands hydrated and replenishes stripped oils. We love Acure Seriously Soothing 24hr Moisture Lotion.

Ingredients To Avoid In Hand Soap

  • Parabens– Parabens are a type of preservative used to prevent the growth of bacteria and prolong the shelf life of lip balm, deodorant, lotion, and other beauty and personal care products. The most commonly used are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben and butylparaben. Based on a study conducted at the University of California Berkeley, researchers found that parabens were able to stimulate breast cancer cell growth, even at concentrations 100 times lower than the natural growth factor heregulin. These findings suggest that paraben exposure doesn’t have to be high to lead to cancer growth.
  • Phthalates– Phthalates are used to increase the flexibility and transparency in plastics. They’re also found in personal care products, and they enhance product absorption, help products stick to your skin and keep fragrance smelling fresh. Phthalates mimic hormones, interrupting hormone production. A 2018 review found that current human exposure to phthalates may have effects on the male reproductive system.
  • Polyethylene glycol– Polyethylene glycol is used to make personal care products thicker and better able to transport moisture to the skin. The manufacturing process introduces impurities and by-products, such as ethylene oxides and 1,4-dioxane, which are known carcinogenic materials.
  • Synthetic fragrance- Personal care products can list fragrance as one ingredient and don’t have to disclose the fact that these formulations may contain hundreds of ingredients. Synthetic Fragrance may contain carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, allergens, respiratory irritants and neurotoxic chemicals. Synthetic musks like galaxolide and tonalide, are linked to hormone disruption. Fragrance formulations also contain phthalates, which are hormone disruptors.
  • Sulfates– Sulfates like Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) are added to many personal care products to produce foam. SLS can lead to irritation, and that’s something worth avoiding if you’re washing your hands multiple times a day.

More Natural Living Inspiration

References

  1. https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.1409200
  2. Patisaul, H.B. and Adawele, H.B. Long-Term Effects of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors on Reproductive Physiology and Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci. 2009; 3: 10.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2706654/
  3. Adke, E.G. et al. Phthalate exposure and male reproductive outcomes: A systematic review of the human epidemiological evidence. Environ Int. 2018 Dec;121(Pt 1):764-793.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30336412
  4. Jang, H.J. et al. Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use. Toxicol Res. 2015 Jun; 31(2): 105–136.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4505343/
  5. Nudelman, J. and Engel, C. Right To Know. Exposing toxic fragrance chemicals in beauty, personal care and cleaning products. Breast Cancer Prevention Partners and Campaign For Safe Cosmetics. Sept. 2018.
    https://d124kohvtzl951.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/26092837/BCPP_Right-To-Know-Report_Secret-Toxic-Fragrance-Ingredients_9_26_2018.pdf
  6. Synthetic Musks. Campaign For Safe Cosmetics. A Project of Breast Cancer Prevention Partners.
    http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/synthetic-musks/

washing hands