Disclosed herein is an antibacterial cleansing composition. The cleansing composition is free of triclosan and comprises lactic acid/lactate and ethyl alcohol. Lactic acid/lactate is present in the composition in an amount of about 5 weight percent (wt %) to about 15 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition. Ethyl alcohol is present in an amount of about 1 wt % to about 20 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition. The pH of the composition is about 4 to about 5. The triclosan-free cleansing composition according to the invention has broad spectrum antibacterial activity that equals or even surpasses comparable formulations containing triclosan.
