Purell · Hand Soap
Gojo Industries Purell Healthy Soap
Lower concern for typical use, but no PFAS transparency from brand.
Purell Healthy Soap is a liquid cosmetic soap with no known PFAS-associated materials (no Teflon-family coating, waterproofing, or stain resistance). However, Gojo Industries does not publicly disclose PFAS testing or claims PFAS-free status.
Shop Purell on Amazon →Material
water-based soap formulation
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Purell Healthy Soap is a water-based liquid hand soap, not an antimicrobial sanitizer like Purell's alcohol-based products. The formulation typically contains surfactants, water, glycerin, and fragrance compounds, with no reported Teflon-type coating, heavy metals, or coating degradation concerns since there is no coating. Water-based soaps rely on mechanical cleansing rather than chemical antimicrobials, making them chemically simpler than bar soaps with preservative systems.
The brand's record and disclosure
Gojo Industries (Purell's parent) has faced scrutiny over antimicrobial claims in sanitizers but has not faced major safety recalls for this soap product line. The brand does not publicly disclose full ingredient lists or PFAS testing data on its website, which limits independent verification. Purell holds no third-party certifications (e.g., EWG Verified, Leaping Bunny) for this product as of available public records.
How it compares in its category
Liquid hand soaps are generally lower-hazard than bar soaps because they avoid talc contamination and require fewer preservatives. This product is more expensive than store-brand equivalents and less transparent than brands like Seventh Generation or Dr. Bronner's, which publish full ingredient disclosure. It occupies a mid-tier safety position: safer than soaps with heavy fragrance loads or antimicrobials, but less verifiable than certified alternatives.
If you buy it
Use standard handwashing technique (20 seconds, warm water) with any liquid soap; no special precautions needed. Store away from extreme heat or direct sunlight to prevent degradation of fragrance compounds. Do not ingest or use on broken skin. For households with fragrance sensitivities, patch-test on a small area first, as fragrance allergens are common in branded soaps but unlisted in ingredient disclosures.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Fragrance allergens (undisclosed components)
Purell Healthy Soap contains 'fragrance' as a listed ingredient but does not break down individual fragrance compounds. Contact dermatitis and respiratory sensitivity from fragrance chemicals (e.g., limonene, linalool) are documented in liquid soaps; risk varies by individual sensitivity.
Formaldehyde releasers in preservative system
No formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (e.g., DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea) are listed on available product labels, but Gojo does not publish full preservative data. Standard liquid soap preservatives (e.g., phenoxyethanol, methylchloroisothiazolinone) do not release formaldehyde.
1,4-dioxane contamination (manufacturing byproduct)
Water-based soaps containing ethoxylated surfactants may harbor trace 1,4-dioxane as an unintended manufacturing byproduct. Gojo has not published third-party testing for 1,4-dioxane in this product; risk is low for typical hand-washing use but not ruled out.
Skin irritation from surfactant concentration
Liquid soaps use higher surfactant loads than bar soaps for pumping and dispensing. Frequent hand washing with high-lather formulations can strip skin barrier, especially in children or those with eczema; this is not a toxicity hazard but a dermatological one.
Heavy metals in colorants or fragrance carriers
Purell Healthy Soap does not list artificial colorants, reducing lead/cadmium risk from FD&C dyes. Fragrance carriers and preservatives do not typically concentrate heavy metals, but brand does not publish heavy metal testing data.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Hand Soap
Ecos
Orange Hand Soap
Plant-based surfactants, water, essential oils (orange)
Lower concern, solid plant-based formula with credible third-party oversight; no PFAS-prone materials.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Seventh Generation
Hand Wash, Free Clean
aqueous surfactants, botanicals, water-based formula
Lower PFAS concern; buy with confidence if skin-sensitivity is a priority.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Seventh Generation
Liquid Hand Soap Free & Clean
Water-based liquid soap formulation
Lower-concern choice; no PFAS expected in liquid soap format, but verification limited to brand claims.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
More hand soap grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.