So, are those anti-bacterial soaps effective or not? When they first came out, everyone bought them in droves. Then reports showed that people will build up resistance to good bacteria by using them So, which is it? The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the FDA is so concerned about people using these soaps that it is trying to publish warnings about them. That’s enough for Clark. Plain soap is just fine for getting your hands clean, and it is perfectly safe. The report even said products such as Purell are not safe. So, stick to the traditional methods and avoid potential harm. The only places that need these kinds of products are health care offices and hospitals.