There are many ways to make a bar of soap last longer. Maybe you want it to last longer to cut costs or simply because you find it a hassle to have to go to the supermarket often. In both cases, a few simple tricks will be enough to postpone the new purchase as much as possible.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Storing the bar so it lasts longer
Step 1. Keep it out of the water
Water is soap's worst enemy and is capable of dissolving it very quickly. A wet bar of soap inevitably melts and must be replaced much more often.
Do not keep the bar of soap in a place where it is constantly in contact with water, for example within the range of the shower head
Step 2. Let it air dry
Allowing the moisture to evaporate will cause the bar to harden again (decreasing the likelihood of it crumbling) and therefore last longer. The more it stays dry, the longer it will last.
For this reason, the duration of the soap also depends on the number of people who use it; the more they are, the more frequently you will have to replace it. If you have a lot of people in the family who use the same bar of soap, it will spend less time between showers, so it will be damp more often
Step 3. Use a suitable soap dish to prevent water from pooling at the bottom
It can have small holes, a grid or be tilted, the important thing is that it allows the water to slide off, so that the soap has the opportunity to dry between uses.
While there are soap dishes made with truly extravagant and magnificent designs and materials, unless they allow for proper water drainage, they will tend to cause the soap to become soggy
Step 4. Store leftovers in a soap bag
Online you can buy bags made with materials that allow water to drain and air to circulate. If the bar of soap breaks or becomes too small for you to comfortably wash yourself, you can put it in one of these soap-saving pouches. In addition to containing the small pieces to be reused later, it can also be used by rubbing it on the body while taking a shower, as you would with an exfoliating glove, to cleanse the skin and eliminate dead cells at the same time.
Part 2 of 3: Use Soap Correctly So It Lasts Longer
Step 1. Use a cloth instead of your hands
Leather is less suited to producing and retaining soap suds than other materials. If you use a cloth to wash your body when taking a shower, less soap will suffice because more foam will be created, which cleanses the skin more effectively than the hands.
You can also use a sponge to make the soap last longer
Step 2. Reduce the water temperature when taking a shower
Hot soap dissolves the soap faster and takes more effort to lather. Washing yourself with slightly cooler water is one way to make the bar last longer because it allows it to better hold its shape and texture.
Another trick that helps to extend the life of the soap is to use a jet of water that is not too strong
Step 3. Use the bar of soap to the end
Even if it breaks or shrinks to an awkward little piece to hold, don't throw it away. If you don't want to buy a soap-saving bag online, you can sew it yourself using one of those microfiber cloths that are used to better clean the skin in the shower. Once it's ready, you can rub it on your body as if it were a normal piece of soap.
If you find that you like to wash yourself like this, when you buy a new bar of soap you can put it directly inside the bag
Part 3 of 3: Other Ways to Make Soap Last Longer
Step 1. Check the ingredients that make up the bar
An important factor to consider in order to make soap last longer is the quality of the product. Those that contain solid fats and oils tend to last longer than those prepared with liquid or low-bodied oils.
Step 2. Let the soap "cure"
Unpack it and let it air dry for about 6-8 weeks. This will make the bar of soap and its ingredients harder, so it will last longer once you start using and wetting it frequently.
- Discard the soap carefully to avoid scratching it and detaching some soap flakes.
- Generally, handmade soaps have already been air-dried, so you may not need to wait any longer before using it if you have purchased a product of this type.
Step 3. Cut the bar of soap into small pieces
This way it will last longer because only the used part will come into contact with the water every time you shower. Meanwhile the other pieces will remain dry and therefore intact.
You can cut it in half or even in three parts. Only use one piece at a time until it is finished
Step 4. Turn the bar of soap into liquid soap
Dilute it to extend its life and use it many more times. Follow these simple instructions:
- Grate it as you would a piece of cheese;
- Take 30 g of grated soap and put it in a jar or other convenient container to use;
- Add 240-480ml of clean, filtered water, then wait until the next day;
- Shake the container before each use.
