Antibacterial soap may be getting all washed out. While millions of Americans have been relying on it to help combat the germs on Junior’s hands after picking up that toad near the pond or to get the toilet in the guest bathroom extra clean, research says that it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded that antibacterial soaps did no better than regular soaps at preventing illnesses in 2005. In fact, says the FDA, our dependence on the stuff may actually contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

What’s more, researchers are currently studying the possibility that these soaps could actually pose a health hazard.

Dirty ingredients?
So what exactly are the potential downsides of the ingredients used in antibacterial soaps?

Shockingly enough, there are several studies underway to determine if the chemicals- triclosan and triclocarbon-used in antibacterial soaps, have the potential to affect sex hormones and interfere with the nervous system.

Triclosan is found in 76 percent of all liquid soaps and also is an additive in toothpaste, mouthwash, and cosmetics. Triclocarbon is commonly found in antibacterial bar soaps and deodorant.

Honestly, the thought makes me cringe.

So what does the Environmental Protection Agency say? The agency is currently in the process of re-evaluating triclosan, and last month published a report stating that it does not post any “serious safety concerns” to consumers.

I don’t know about you, but I’d like to know if there were any minor concerns and then make my own decision.

Plain and simple
It’s not fancy, but experts say that old-fashioned plain soap is the best way to get clean, with one study showing regular liquid dish soap to be more effective than antibacterial soaps in killing respiratory synctial virus (RSV), which is known to cause bronchitis and pneumonia.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that you can effectively remove most bacteria by just washing your hands with plain soap and warm water for about 10 to 20 seconds.

That’s about the time it would take for you to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

Follow these tips from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to help your kids get a squeaky clean set of hands:

• Wet hands under warm, running water.

• Sing “Happy Birthday” twice while you scrub with soap and water. That’s more fun than counting out the recommended 20 seconds it takes to properly wash your hands.

• Keep a nailbrush by your sink to help you tackle the germs that hide under the fingernails, and don’t forget about the cracks and crevices in the hands and fingers.

• Rinse your hands for a total of five seconds under running water, and use a towel to turn off the faucet if using a public restroom.

Make sure your child washes their hands:

• After using the toilet
• Before handling food or eating
• After playing with animals or community toys
• After playing outdoors or in a sandbox.

To be safe, also make sure to wash your own hands:

• Before touching food or feeding a baby or child
• After changing a diaper or helping a child use the toilet
• When caring for a sick child
• After handling pets or animals
• After cleaning pet cages or litter boxes