According to experts, our hands can have anywhere from 100,000 to a few million germs at any time. While some of those germs live naturally on our skin, others are picked up as we go around touching contaminated surfaces, shaking hands and using our germ-ridden smartphones.
Hand washing is an easy and effective step we can all take to prevent the spread of germs and disease, and there’s no better way to get the job done than by lathering up with a hardworking soap bar. But if you’re new to the world of bar soap, you may have some important questions about them. Is hand washing with bar soap recommended? How does bar soap compare to liquid soap? And what should you look for in a soap bar? We have the answers you need to know.
This is a common misconception about soap that almost all of us have believed at one point. Soap, whether it’s in liquid or bar form, doesn’t actually kill germs. Rather, the surfactants in soap combine with water to lift bacteria and viruses off the skin and wash them down the drain. So, if you’re holding back on buying bar soap because it’s not “antibacterial,” rest assured that a bar of soap is equally effective at preventing illness.
We get this question a lot, so we wrote an entire blog about it. The short answer is yes, bar soap is definitely hygienic! While bar soap generally harbors more bacteria on it than liquid soap, studies show that no detectable levels of microbes remain after using the proper hand washing technique.
How you store your bar soap can make a big difference in how many germs it harbors. Keep your bar dry in between uses with a well-draining soap dish. Not only will a high-quality soap dish reduce the number of bacteria, but it will also prevent your bar from getting mushy, thereby prolonging its lifespan.
While bar soap and liquid soap are equally effective at fighting germs, many people prefer to lather up with solid bar soap for the following reasons:
For a squeaky clean you can feel good about, look for a natural bar soap made from plant-based oils. Natural soaps are super effective at washing away grime and often contain beneficial ingredients such as shea butter and saponified coconut oil to help replace lost moisture.
Most importantly, natural soaps are less likely to contain the harsh, artificial ingredients commonly found in mass-produced soaps. These ingredients include (but aren’t limited to) the following:
Hand washing with bar soap isn’t complicated. Just follow these simple tips and you’ll have a routine down before you know it.
Because our bars are so big, they can even be sliced into two pieces: one for hand washing by the sink and one for body washing in the shower.
When it comes to keeping your family and the planet healthy, nothing beats a natural soap bar. Our plastic-free soap bars are packed with plant-based oils and butters that lift away bacteria while leaving your skin’s natural moisture intact. Ultimately, that means a greener beauty routine!
