Triclosan is an antimicrobial chemical that pollutes people and the environment. It is found in most Americans, where it may be interfering with the hormone and reproductive systems and increasing sensitivity to allergens. Triclosan will soon be banned from soaps because of concern that it is neither safe nor effective, yet it may be found in hundreds of other products. EWG’s review of industry documents and government databases on approved uses identified places all around the house where triclosan may be hiding. Click on the categories below to see common household products, furnishings, personal care products and apparel that may contain triclosan.

triclosan guide
woman applying hand cream or lotion
  • SHAMPOOS
  • BODY WASHES
  • ATHLETIC WEAR
  • INTIMATE APPAREL
  • PHONES
lotion icon

Personal Care

Body sprays, Body washes*, Conditioners, Deodorants, Facial soaps*, Hand creams, Hand soaps*, Lotions, Mud masks, Shampoos, Shaving gels & after-shaving products, Toothpastes, Wound treatments (OTC)


clothing icon

Clothing & Other Apparel

Aprons, Athletic wear & athletic shirts, Bibs, Caps, Coat shells & fill, Dresses, Gloves, Golf shirts, Gowns, Hosiery, Incontinence care products, Intimate apparel, Running gear, Shoes & insoles, Sleepwear, Socks, Sports apparel, Sweatshirts, Underwear, Uniforms, Wet suits


wallet icon

In Your Pocket

Credit cards, Driver's license, Money, Phone

on your food
kitchen counter with food
  • CUTTING BOARDS
  • NAPKINS
  • FOOD CONTAINERS
  • SERVING UTENSILS
  • WATER DISPENSERS
place setting icon

On or Close to Your Food

Counter and table tops, Cutting boards, Food & condiment storage containers, Napkins, Paper & paperboard (including menu materials), Serving utensils, Tablecloths, Water dispensers

around your home
kid in the bathtub
  • COUNTERTOPS
  • BLANKETS
  • MATTRESSES
  • BATHTUBS
  • FURNITURE
kitchen icon

Kitchen

Countertops, Cutting boards, Food & condiment storage containers, Garbage bags, Garbage cans & liners, Handles & knobs, Serving utensils, Sponges, Tray liners, Water dispensers


bedroom icon

Bedroom

Blankets, Carpets, Cloths, Comforters, Curtains, Draperies, Duvets & bed spreads, Furniture & fabrics, Handles & knobs, Mattress, pillow ticking & filling, Mattress pads, Other linens, Pillow shams, Pillowcases, Quilts, Rugs, Sheets


bathroom icon

Bathroom

Bath accessories, Bath rugs, Bathtubs & enclosure, Caulking (tub & tile), Combs, Countertops, Grout, Hairbrushes, Handles & knobs, Mats, Razors, Shower curtains, Shower stalls, Tank & seat covers, Toilet covers, Toilets & toilet component accessories, Toothbrush handles & bristles, Towels & washcloths, Urinals


house icon

Elsewhere in the House

Awnings, Carpets, Coatings (aqueous, solvent based, liquid, powder, metallic coatings for plumbing fixtures, door handles, bed pans, floor drains, grease traps), Curtains, Draperies, Floor waxes & sealers, Flooring (concrete, epoxy, component fibers, & coatings), Furniture & fabric, Humidifier components, Insulating material, Mats, Rugs, Storage containers, Tile, Toys, Wall coverings, Whirlpools


cleaning supplies icon

Cleaning Tools & Supplies

Blanket bags, Brooms & brushes, Garbage bags, Garbage cans & liners, Mops & mop buckets, Reusable household wipes, Sponges, Vacuum cleaner components & bags

outside the home
kids playing outside
  • AGRICULTURAL MULCH
  • BOATING EQUIPMENT
  • PLAYGROUNDS
  • EXERCISE EQUIPMENT
  • TENTS AND TARPS
lawn, garden and sports icon

Lawn, Garden & Sports

Agricultural mulch, Boating equipment, Exercise equipment, Paper mulch (non-food), Playground equipment, Ropes, Tarps, Tents

 

take the triclosan quiz



 

ON YOUR BODY

woman applying hand cream
  • SHAMPOOS
  • BODY WASHES
  • ATHLETIC WEAR
  • INTIMATE APPAREL
  • PHONES
Personal Care
Clothing &
Other Apparel
In Your Pocket
  • Body sprays
  • Body washes*
  • Conditioners
  • Deodorants
  • Facial soaps*
  • Hand creams
  • Hand soaps*
  • Lotions
  • Mud masks
  • Shampoos
  • Shaving gels &
    after-shaving products
  • Toothpastes
  • Wound treatments (OTC)
  • Aprons
  • Athletic wear & athletic shirts
  • Bibs
  • Caps
  • Coat shells & fill
  • Dresses
  • Gloves
  • Golf shirts
  • Gowns
  • Hosiery
  • Incontinence care products
  • Intimate apparel
  • Running gear
  • Shoes & insoles
  • Sleepwear
  • Socks
  • Sports apparel
  • Sweatshirts
  • Underwear
  • Uniforms
  • Wet suits
  • Credit cards
  • Driver's license
  • Money
  • Phone

 

ON OR CLOSE TO YOUR FOOD

kitchen counter with food
  • CUTTING BOARDS
  • NAPKINS
  • FOOD CONTAINERS
  • SERVING UTENSILS
  • WATER DISPENSERS
On or Close to
Your Food
  • Counter & table tops
  • Cutting boards
  • Food & condiment
    storage container
  • Napkins
  • Paper & paperboard
    (including menu materials)
  • Serving utensils
  • Table cloth
  • Water dispensers

 

AROUND YOUR HOME

woman applying hand cream
  • COUNTERTOPS
  • BLANKETS
  • MATTRESSES
  • BATHTUBS
  • FURNITURE
Kitchen
Bedroom
Bathroom
Elsewhere in
the House
Cleaning Tools
& Supplies
  • Countertops
  • Cutting boards
  • Food & condiment
    storage container
  • Garbage bags
  • Garbage cans and liners
  • Handles & knobs
  • Serving utensils
  • Sponges
  • Tray liners
  • Water dispensers
  • Blankets
  • Carpets
  • Cloths
  • Comforters
  • Curtains
  • Draperies
  • Duvets & bed spreads
  • Furniture & fabrics
  • Handles & knobs
  • Mattress, pillow
    ticking & filling
  • Mattress pads
  • Other linens
  • Pillow shams
  • Pillowcases
  • Quilts
  • Rugs
  • Sheets
  • Bath accessories
  • Bath rugs
  • Bathtubs & enclosure
  • Caulking (tub & tile)
  • Combs
  • Countertops
  • Grout
  • Hairbrushes
  • Handles & knobs
  • Mats
  • Razors
  • Shower curtains
  • Shower stalls
  • Tank & seat covers
  • Toilet covers
  • Toilets and toilet
    component accessories
  • Toothbrush handles
    & bristles
  • Towels & washcloths
  • Urinals
  • Awnings
  • Carpets
  • Coatings (aqueous, solvent
    based, liquid, powder,
    metallic coating for
    plumbing fixtures, door
    handles, bed pans, floor
    drains, grease traps)
  • Curtains
  • Draperies
  • Floor waxes & sealers
  • Flooring (concrete,
    epoxy, component fibers,
    & coatings)
  • Furniture & fabric
  • Humidifier components
  • Insulating material
  • Mats
  • Rugs
  • Storage containers
  • Tile
  • Toys
  • Wall coverings
  • Whirlpools
  • Blanket bags
  • Brooms & brushes
  • Garbage bags
  • Garbage cans and liners
  • Mops & mop buckets
  • Reusable household wipes
  • Sponges
  • Vacuum cleaner
    components & bags

 

OUTSIDE YOUR HOME

kids playing outside
  • AGRICULTURAL MULCH
  • BOATING EQUIPMENT
  • PLAYGROUNDS
  • EXERCISE EQUIPMENT
  • TENTS AND TARPS
Lawn, Garden
& Sports
  • Agricultural mulch
  • Boating equipment
  • Exercise equipment
  • Paper mulch (non-food)
  • Playground equipment
  • Ropes
  • Tarps
  • Tents

take the triclosan quiz

* The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned triclosan and other antibacterial ingredients in hand and body washes, effective Sept. 6, 2017.

 

Sources: EWG SkinDeep® and active EPA pesticide registrations for Microban B (2013), Bacticlean (2011) and Sanitized Brand PLA (2011).

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