apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I use bar soap in the shower, because I just can't convert to body wash.

Liquid hand soap in the kitchen and on the bathroom sink, buying the giant sized Method Refils at Costco. The giant bottles are really cute, tear drop shaped.
The labels come off too, so you can use them for anything. I am going to use this next one as a watering can.

I recently switched to bar soap in the shower. (Extra credit: I also switched to bar shampoo and conditioner from Lush, thanks to a post from you guys. It's lovely - my fussy hair is so happy - and even the containers I'm keeping it in are reused...!)

By the sink, I've done this little trick: buy a Method foaming soap, use it, refill with a little Dr. Bronner's (or Whole Foods') liquid glycerin soap and a lot of water. I've even started doing that at work, too, in the communal sink. Nobody's noticed yet!

I also refill the foaming soap container we have. I actually use a little bit of dish detergent. it works wonderfully.

I like using Dr. Bronner's Castile soap in Tea Tree for my face. I typically use liquid soap...but am starting to like bar soap again. And my local natural foods store recently started carrying the Dr. Bronner's soap in the bar form. I like it much better. It's too easy for me to use too much when using the liquid castile soap. Plus, I like the simple bar of soap instead of all that wordy insanity all over the bottle (I love the soap, but strongly disagree with the religious views written on the bottle).

Speaking of soap bars, this article from the NYTimes the result of a study showing "These findings, along with other published reports, show that little hazard exists in routine handwashing with previously used soap bars and support the frequent use of soap and water for handwashing.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/science/10qna.html?ref=science

I come from a long line of bar soap users - although I do have liquid soap in the bathroom for guests.

A friend of mine had a castile soap in liquid form where the first ingredient was not water, but I haven't been able to find it yet.

I use bar soap in the shower, the husband is wasteful and uses the liquid old-spice. He also goes through a bottle a month (you seriously only need a tiny bit, not a table spoon).

We would love to use bar soap, especially since my mother-in-law makes it for us. The problem is our bars melt and I don't like the look of those plastic deals that hold the soap up out of the water. They always look so scummy. Does anyone have ingenious ideas for bar soap elevation?

they make lovely wooden or metal soap holders. one's with slats help the soap dry more and collect less goo.

Shared bar soap "icks" you out? Really, do you wear gloves everywhere too? I am continually surprised at the level of fear of germs, bacteria and other living organisms exhibited by western society.

As for non-soap dish solutions try a magnetic soap holder commonly found in europe. You can make one yourself by embedding a magnet in a decorative handle or bracket and a beer bottle cap in the bar soap. Hang it up when you're done and let it dry. Bar soap lasts 2-5 times longer this way (depending upon the type of soap)

http://www.homebits.co.uk/acatalog/FRIIS_AND_MOLTKE_STAINLESS_STEEL_MAGNETIC_SOAP_HOLDER.html

for an idea of the fancy version.

Myself I use bar soap, shampoo and all. The leftover bits get thrown into a foaming liquid pump with water and used for foamed handsoap.

i use that exact liquid soap in the picture. dr. bronner's is the best!

I use bar soap for hands and for shampoo (although I'm trying out just using baking soda to wash and vinegar to condition for a while). I am using honey to wash my face, but when I use up what I got 2 years ago from my CSA, I plan to either make another DIY face cleanser or find a solid solution.

I just love the sight of pubic hair stuck in the soap bar.

I use bar soap mainly because I'm allergic to all but a couple of soaps, and those soaps are bar soaps. (really, I'm allergic to almost everything. I even have to bring my own travel hand soap with me everywhere so I can wash my hands after using the bathroom away from home). But one thing I've noticed is that since I switched from body wash to bar soap in the shower, my tub clogs a lot faster. The same goes with the bathroom that has bar soap vs. the bathroom that has liquid soap. I guess it "chunks up" in the drains?

snoopystar: thank you for that link. When did we become such a nation of germophobes? Seriously, I can't believe anyone is "icked" out by sharing bar soap. That's just weird.

In bar v. liquid, there is more to consider than packaging, though bar packaging wins absolutely.

1. the hardeners in bar soap are what leave soap scum on the tub and shower. Soap scum takes more cleaning product, more water and more physical effort to clean off.

2. Children wash their hands better, and bathe better using liquid soaps, but are more wasteful with the liquid product.

3. In general terms, liquids are harder on the skin than bars. If you wash your hands a gillion times a day with liquid soap, you probably have cracked skin.

4. To kill germs, hospital staff (excluding surgical staff) are taught to lather for 30 seconds. Most people don't lather for 10 seconds, regardless of the product being used.

5. Most liquid dispensers put out too much product. Consider dilution at 1/3 to 1/2 and follow the 30 second rule.

On a personal note: I have extremely sensitive skin and I am allergic to more things than I can list here. I bathe in Dove for Sensitive Skin---bar soap---and use it at the kitchen and bathroom sinks.

A friend of mine crocheted a little bar-soap-sized cozy out of hemp cord, with a draw-string, which I use instead of a loofah or whatever, and then throw in the washing machine when the bar of soap wears out. It's genius, and scrubby, and it keeps the soap from getting all mushy because it dries out when I put it in the dish of my hanging shower caddy. I bet any knitter could do the same.

I had a roommate that wrapped a rubber band underneath the "nozzle" of our liquid soap dispenser. It kept the dispenser top from being pushed down all the way, reducing the amount of soap dispensed each time. Simple way to reduce waste.

I'm a liquid soap fan, It's all I've used for years and I'm so used to it. I frequently have overnight guests as well so I think liquid soap works best for my lifestyle. Plus I can always reuse the bottle to cut down on waste.

I LOVE Dr. Bronner's miracle soap! I use the tea tree oil one as a body wash and shampoo. I find it moisturizes my hair without stripping it and I don't need to use conditioner afterwards. To tie it in to the theme of the no 'poo movement, I have cut back on hair products and use Dr. Bronner's liquid soap as a shampoo every 3rd day or so. Once every week or so I might use a "normal" shampoo as a clarifier to remove residue and oils from my hair but I have noticed that my hair is much healthier and shinier than when I used to shampoo and condition every day.

liquid is more sanitary. bacteria grows on bar soaps.