An antibacterial cleansing composition comprising: from about 0.01% to about 1%, by weight of the composition, of
chloroxylenol; from about 5% to about 15%
sodium lauryl
sulfate by weight of the composition; from about 1% to about 5% by weight of the composition of a co-surfactant, wherein the co-surfactant is selected from zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, nonionic surfactants, or combinations thereof; wherein the weight ratio of
sodium lauryl
sulfate to the cosurfactant is in the range of about 3: 1 to about 5: 1; and wherein the composition has a pH of from about 2 to about 5.