Shower gel? Liquid hand soap? Never really got into them. I have always preferred a good, old-fashioned bar of waxy soap. Probably I am in the minority, but I would love to change that. There are so many reasons to start using soap again. Here are some of the best.
Eight reasons to start using soap again
Cut back your plastic
In these times of the ‘Attenborough Effect’, don’t we all want to reduce the number of plastic bottles we use? If you start using soap again you can cut out the bottles of liquid hand soap and shower gel. You can even use solid shampoo bars and dishwashing soap in bar form too.
It really works
Bar soap cleans just as well as liquid soap. People used it forever before some bright spark had the idea of sticking it in a plastic bottle in liquid form.
I have heard people describe it as unhygienic. What a lot of nonsense! It is made of stuff that cleans, like caustic soda. Therefore germs would have to be tough little blighters to hang around on a bar of soap and survive a fresh lathering when you use it. Give it a rinse first! I guess I do prefer liquid soap in public toilets, but in your own home I can’t see an issue. Also, who cleans their soap dispensers often enough to say they are free of germs? There is an interesting article on the safety of bar soap as opposed to liquid soap here.
It is cheaper
A non fancy bar of soap is super cheap. If you feel they might be a bit harsh for your skin (and some are), you can spend a couple of pounds more on one with some moisturisers included. I’m not saying you can’t spend a lot on a bar of soap if you want something with the best ingredients, but you don’t need to. If you are on a tight budget, start using soap again and save money.
Bar soap can be fancy!
Soap comes in so many fragrances, colours, shapes and sizes these days. Moisturising oils, herbs, flowers, essential oils, oats, seaweed, seeds, nuts and more are found in the nicest bars.
You can often find it in really pretty paper packaging too, so it’s nice enough to give as an eco-friendly gift to persuade someone else to start using soap again! I think these ones on Amazon
It’s less hassle
One of the reasons I never took to shower gel is because you have to faff around trying to open a bottle whilst you are under running water. So much easier to just reach for the soap! These days, I put mine in a little hessian bag which acts as a body scrubber too. Then I hang it on the tap to dry.
You can support local makers
If I am ever at a market or craft fair I tend to make straight for the soap stalls. Soap making is a craft that has undergone a revival in recent years. I used to make my own when the kids were small and I had a bit more time, and it is fun! My favourite make looked like coconut ice.
I like to buy local and support crafts people and this is another good reason in my book why you should start using soap again.
It lasts longer
As long as you don’t let your bar of soap sit in water, it will last for ages. I find it lasts longer than liquid soap. However, if it sits in water it just dissolves and goes to mush. You need some nice soap holders with drainage, ideally.
You might argue that it is hard to use the last bit and this is true. However, you can save it going to waste by collecting up several pieces and melting them together to make a new bar. This is super thrifty! There is a video showing how to do this on Wikihow, here.
Soap has multiple uses
You can use soap in useful ways other than just to wash yourself. For example, if you are a gardener, try scraping your nails over a bar of soap before you start to keep them clean or place a couple of bars in your smelly shoes to absorb the odours.
By the way, I totally stole these last two ideas from Jillee at One Good Thing. Check out her other suggestions here.
I am interested to know if any of you have been tempted to start using soap again? If you do, what made you do it?
If you enjoyed this post, you might like Ten ways to cut your plastic waste today.
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Converted back to bars of soap last year. I enjoying buying artisan soap as a souvenir from a holiday or a day out. Usually with wonderful fragrances, I have fussy skin and the bars work better for me.
We have been using bar soap for some time and like you we prefer it. I ask for nice soaps for Christmas and birthdays and have received some lovely ones and at the moment I have enough to last the year,I also give them as gifts . We also have been using shampoo bars for some time, the blue one which I think has sea salt in it from Lush, has sorted out the psoriasis on husbands scalp and you can scoop some of the lather from your head and wash the rest of you.Using tea leaves instead of bags too, makes a super cuppa and use old spray bottles to contain home made cleaners, the all purpose one is so good in the kitchen and with added lemon oil smells lovely. We don’t use air fresheners but refresh pot pourri with essential oil.. Back to soap, have been told if you wrap elastic bands around the soap dish, put your soap on, no more soggy soap !
Great. Ditto to all the above. Far fewer chemicals in your house!
I prefer bars of soap as I dislike the clutter and mess (drips) of having extra bottles of liquid soap by the sink. I also used solid shampoo bars for years, but alas, they no longer work well with my coarser, greying hair.
Gosh this post brought back so many memories from my childhood! In particular, mushy bars that had been left sitting in pools of water, having to try to graft the last tiny sliver of the old bar onto the new bar, and how clunky and difficult it was to lather up the new bar until the edges had softened a bit, or at least had reduced to fit my little hands!
Lol, not a fan of bar soap then?
I never used shower jell so showering wasn’t an issue. I had switched to liquid soap for hand washing but switched back to bar soap about a year ago. Partly to reduce use of plastics and partly due to the cost factor. I do keep liquid soap for when I have guests – I have a dispenser and then I just refill as needed from a large bottle that will last me at least a couple of years.
I only use very gentle and non scented soaps and find this easier to do with bar soaps.
I am interested in a bar shampoo but people keep mentioning LUSH – a store that I can’t go within a 100 feet of – their scents are so overpowering that their lease was terminated in the complex where I worked and they had to leave due to so many complaints! I keep looking for other options but so far no luck with finding an unscented variety.
I know what you mean about Lush. You can order online I think.
We have used at soap for years, it keeps the bathroom tidy and uncluttered, shampoo bars are great for my hair as it’s fine and the lush one is a lovely smell
Agree absolutely, I have two bars on the go and swap them around giving bar A a rest in the cupboard. Gives A chance to dry while B is brought into service.
Love your blog, congrats on the new chapter in your life, good luck in your endeavours.
Pam in Texas. x
Thanks Pam
I’m afraid I just don’t like soap (other than for scenting a drawer). Even really good soap leaves scum when the water is hard.
I buy everything I can in glass containers rather than plastic, though admit it’s hard to find hand wash in glass. Only very fancy stuff comes in glass.
The smell of the Lush shop used to make me feel ill when we had one in town. I found it too sickly sweet.
I collected novelty guest soaps when I was a teenager, which helped me greatly when I was a student, and later, when I was unemployed for a while. Much more useful than collecting keyrings or rubbers 🙂
A couple of years ago, the Purchasing Department of the hospitality company I worked for, trialled new amenities, and then gave away the excess to all colleagues. Most colleagues were not interested, some took a few, and after closing hours (and 2 days later – I wanted to give everyone a chance to take what they wanted) I carted away the rest.
I still have shampoo, conditioner, and soaps!, but the shower gels have finished. Husband prefers a certain brand of shower gel, which I buy the large bottles of, and then refill a handy smaller bottle with a smaller pouring hole. Every other ‘fill’ is from a cheap discount bath foam bottle :). Our daughters use this, too. I use my soaps, I really prefer them. I would even guess that I am SABLE (stuff acquired beyond lifetime expectancy) :D.
Bar soap is practically an endangered species, it’s surprisingly difficult to find and not much choice when you do find it.
I am 73 and have always used bar soap. I use a plain white soap on my face–Jergens, which also is cheap–and the dermatologist always comments on how good my skin is. (I don’t think it is all that great…all I see are the freckles turning to age spots).
I don’t take showers…much prefer a good soak. However, I am letting the other members of the family use shower gel because IT DOESN’T LEAVE SOAP SCUM. This house was newly built when we moved in a year ago, and the two showers are still shiny and clean! I will be looking for a large container of gel to use for refills. At least I can recycle the plastic bottles, but the less plastic, the better I like it!