How Long Do Soap Bars Last?
Whilst we love to create soap that feels indulgent as well as practical, we are aware that it is a necessity. No matter who you are or where you live, you will have soap in your bathroom. The only thing that divides us on this matter is the type of soap that sits on our kitchen and bathroom sinks. Is it a stoneware bottle filled with a liquid concoction, or - as we like to hope - maybe you’re slightly more amenable to a soap bar packed to the brim with natural goodness.
If you’re not a soap bar fanatic but have been considering making the change to a more sustainable method of cleaning, then you’re probably wondering what soap bars are really worth to you. Are they worth the money? Do they last as long as it’s proclaimed?
At Bee Clean Soaps, we wanted to explain exactly why soap bars outrank liquid soap in lifespan. So join us as we take a dive into how long soap lasts and how to make it last longer.
Let’s get started.
How long will a soap bar last?
Your bar of natural soap will last for different periods of time, depending on:
- How often you use your soap
- How many people are using it
- How you use your soap
A natural soap bar should last you a full month if you are draining it well and showering once a day. If multiple people are using it then it will last for a shorter period of time.
If you only use your soap bar to wash your hands then you should have it for much longer.
How long does liquid soap last?
Liquid soap will last for different periods of time depending on the size of the bottle and how often you use it.
However, they don’t last as long as they are advertised to. On average, a bar of soap will last you six times longer than the equivalent in liquid soap.
How to make a soap bar last longer
If you’re worried about the lifespan of your soap bar, then there are many ways to make it last that little bit longer. All it takes is a little TLC and know-how and you’ll be able to make your soap bar go the distance.
Here’s how:
1. Choose soap with a firm base oil
When you choose natural soaps, they tend to be softer than commercial brands. This is because they aren’t packed with preservatives, synthetic waxes or hardening chemicals that give so many soap bars their solid texture.
The simple solution might appear to be ‘switch to a commercial soap’, but this doesn’t help anybody. Whilst the chemicals do help the soap bar last longer, they are also notoriously damaging to the environment and your skin.
So instead, we recommend taking a look at the base oils in your natural soap bar instead. Base oils exist in every soap bar and the texture of the base oil used can have a huge impact on the consistency of the soap itself. Base oils with a more solid texture like coconut oil create a harder bar of soap which will last you much longer.
We also recommend looking out for beeswax in lotion bars because this is a fantastic natural additive that can solidify the product even more, whilst being gentle against your skin.
2. Change how often you shower
It might sound like we’re asking you to live the smelly life, but don’t worry; we don’t want you to forgo washing altogether. It’s just a simple fact of life that if you shower twice a day, your soap won’t last as long as if you shower once a day.
Showering once a day will also reduce the amount of water you use, which helps lessen water pollution and will keep your water and heating bills down too!
3. Choose a cooler washing temperature
It is a truth universally acknowledged that any soap bar left under hot water will dissolve quicker than a soap bar left under cold, lukewarm or even pleasant water.
We prefer to wash sustainably anyway, which is why we’d always recommend washing at a cooler temperature to save energy, but this can also help keep your soap bar intact for much longer. Not to mention, colder showers are proven to do wonders for your physical and mental wellbeing.
So turn down your temperature notch just a tad and give your soap an extra lease of life.
4. Use a washcloth or scrubber
We often get asked why you should invest in a soap saver. The answer is in the name: it saves the soap. Soap savers produce a gorgeous lather whilst keeping the soap bar itself contained within the bag, so it exfoliates your skin while saving your soap.
It will also keep all those final scraps together so you can use every last morsel.
And let's be honest, we Yorkshire folk love a bag of scraps.
5. Drain your soap properly
When you air out your soap, you’re allowing it to dry properly which helps it last longer. This is particularly effective if you’ve chosen not to use a soap saver and store your soap bars in a soap dish.
Always, always get a soap dish with draining holes/slots at the bottom to stop the water from sitting around and keeping your soap slippy. It also helps to give your soap dish a clean and dry once a week, especially if it’s made of bamboo.
6. Turn the excess into liquid soap
Even as proud soap makers, we know that when you get to the very centre of your soap, you’re sometimes left with a sludgy bit in the middle. Either that, or you struggle to wash yourself properly with the fragments you have left.
But you don’t need to get frustrated because (alas!) there is a use for them after all!
Turn them into liquid soap. Just make sure you find some decent instructions online.
How to wash your hands with bar soap
Knowing how to wash your hands correctly using bar soap goes a long way towards helping them last longer. There are no complicated steps, just a simple process that will help you get the most out of your soap bar.
- Rinse your soap bar under lukewarm running water
- Rub the bar between your hands to release a lather
- Place the bar back on your soap dish
- Rub your hands together, scrubbing into your palms, the backs of your hands, between and over the tips of your fingers, and onto your wrists if you prefer
- Rinse your hands and dry them off using a fresh, clean towel
One of the biggest mistakes people make when washing their hands with bar soap is scrubbing the bar over their hands to clean. This is a less effective cleaning method and uses the soap far quicker.
You only need a small lather on your palms to distribute over the remaining surface of your hands. When it comes to soap bars, a little really goes a long way.
Our collection of natural soap bars really do last. When you learn to lather lovingly, you’ll be on your way to saving your bit whilst protecting the planet.
At Bee Clean Soaps, we are more than happy to answer any of your soap related questions. Simply send us a message on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, or contact us and we’ll be in touch shortly.