How to Make Your Soap Bars Last Longer

There is nothing quite as satisfying as opening a fresh bar of soap or shampoo. But if you leave it sitting in a puddle of water between uses, it can become soft and disappear much faster than it should.

The good news is that a few very simple habits can make a real difference. A solid bar should last well, but the secret is giving it a chance to dry properly between uses.

Keep it out of standing water

This is the most important one. After using your bar, avoid leaving it on the edge of the bath, in a shower tray or in a soap dish that collects water underneath.

When a bar sits in water, it continues to dissolve even when nobody is using it. It can become soft underneath, stick to the surface and gradually wash away.

A well-draining soap dish allows the water to run away and lets air circulate around the bar. It is a very small change, but it can add a surprising amount of life to your soap, shampoo or conditioner bar.

Let your bar dry between uses

Solid bars like a little breathing room. If possible, keep them somewhere dry rather than directly under the shower, where they will be splashed every time someone turns on the water.

If several people use different bars, give each one its own space. Packing damp bars tightly together makes it harder for them to dry and can leave them stuck to one another.

You don’t need to use as much as you think

With shampoo bars, more swipes do not necessarily mean cleaner hair. Wet your hair thoroughly, glide the bar over the scalp a few times and then use your fingertips to work up the lather. You can always add another swipe, but most people need less product than they first expect.

The same applies to soap and body wash bars. A loofah creates plenty of lather from a small amount of soap, helping the bar go further while giving you a gentle scrub at the same time.

Give the bar a moment to drain

Before placing it back on the soap dish, give the bar a quick shake or rest it upright for a moment so the excess water can run off. You do not need to carefully dry it with a towel—just avoid putting it away dripping wet.

Don’t throw away the small pieces

Those little slivers left at the end are still perfectly useful. Press a damp piece onto a fresh bar and allow the two to dry together, or collect several pieces in a loofah soap pouch and use them until they are completely gone.

It is one of the lovely things about solid products: there is very little waste, right down to the last piece.

Travelling with solid bars

Shampoo, conditioner and soap bars are brilliant for travelling, but try not to seal them into a container while they are still wet. Let them dry before packing whenever possible. If that is not practical, take them out of the container and allow them to air-dry once you reach your destination.

The little things make a difference

Your bar does not need any complicated care routine. Keep it out of standing water, allow it to dry and use only what you need. That is really all there is to it.

And if your bathroom or kitchen essentials are due a refresh, our soap dishes, loofahs, copper scrubbers and more are now back in stock. They may be the supporting cast rather than the stars of the show, but they are useful little additions that make everyday jobs that bit easier.