Purell · Hand Soap
GOJO Purell Healthy Soap
Lower concern for PFAS, typical liquid soap formulation without known PFAS-prone ingredients.
Purell Healthy Soap is a standard liquid hand soap with no documented PFAS-treatment claims or Teflon-family coating coatings. The brand has not disclosed PFAS content or absence.
Shop Purell on Amazon →Material
water, glycerin, sodium lauryl sulfate, fragrance (typical liquid hand soap)
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 built on sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a common anionic surfactant that breaks down oils and dirt, plus glycerin as a humectant to prevent skin drying. The fragrance component is proprietary but undisclosed in detail; fragrances can contain dozens of allergens or sensitizers, though they are present in dilute amounts in rinse-off products. Unlike bar soaps or antibacterial formulations, this product contains no reported antimicrobial actives (triclosan, triclocarban), reducing concerns tied to overuse or bioaccumulation. The simple aqueous formulation presents minimal leaching or breakdown risk since it is not heated, stored in porous materials, or used on cookware or textiles.
The brand's record and disclosure
Gojo Industries, Purell's parent company, has not made public commitments to PFAS elimination in hand soaps and does not disclose fragrance ingredients or full formulation transparency. The brand has faced no major recalls or safety controversies specific to Purell Healthy Soap. Purell's focus on alcohol-based hand sanitizers (not this product) has drawn scrutiny over formulation claims, but the non-antimicrobial soap line operates under standard personal care safety frameworks. No independent certifications (e.g., Ecocert, NSF, cruelty-free) are listed for this variant.
How it compares in its category
Purell Healthy Soap sits in the mass-market liquid hand soap tier, chemically similar to unbranded equivalents from other major manufacturers (Dial, Softsoap, store brands). It avoids claims of antibacterial efficacy, which reduces regulatory scrutiny but also lacks differentiation from generic formulations. Compared to premium or "natural" soaps (e.g., Whole Foods brand, Dr. Bronner's), it offers no fragrance transparency or plant-based positioning; compared to bars or foams, liquid soaps carry higher water/packaging waste but avoid antimicrobial residue buildup in pipes or on hands. Cost-effectiveness is typical for the segment.
If you buy it
Use as directed on hands with warm water for 20 seconds; no special precautions are needed. The product should be kept sealed between uses to avoid evaporation and bacterial growth in the bottle; if the bottle sits open or warm for extended periods, discard and replace. Do not ingest; keep away from eyes (SLS causes irritation in eyes specifically). For individuals with known fragrance sensitivities or contact dermatitis, patch-test on forearm first or consider unscented alternatives. Standard hand soap shelf life is 2-3 years unopened; replace if the product separates, odor changes, or bottle shows mold.
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.”
Surfactant (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) skin irritation
SLS is a known irritant in high concentrations or with prolonged contact; in rinse-off hand soap at typical use (20 seconds), irritation is rare in the general population but more likely in individuals with eczema, psoriasis, or baseline skin sensitivity. Pre-existing dermatitis may worsen with repeated use.
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Proprietary fragrance blends in hand soaps may contain common allergens (limonene, linalool, citral) or rare sensitizers; incidence of fragrance-related contact dermatitis is 1-3% in consumer populations. Rinse-off exposure reduces systemic risk, but occupational users (healthcare workers, food handlers) face cumulative dermal exposure.
Bacterial or fungal growth in bottle
Liquid hand soaps, especially those stored in warm or humid bathrooms, can develop microbial contamination if the pump or bottle is not kept clean or if water intrudes. This is a storage/maintenance issue rather than a formulation defect but poses a sanitation risk if unnoticed.
None known: heavy metals, formaldehyde releasers, or antimicrobial residues
Purell Healthy Soap contains no reported antimicrobials, dyes, or preservatives associated with heavy metal contamination or formaldehyde release. It is not a medicated soap and carries standard personal care product safety classification.
None known: microplastic or microbeads
This liquid soap formulation does not include plastic microbeads or synthetic exfoliants. It is not marketed as a scrub or exfoliating product.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% 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
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✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Seventh Generation
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Lower PFAS concern; buy with confidence if skin-sensitivity is a priority.
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Seventh Generation
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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.