Let’s talk about the soap, shall we? We all use it, after all. Whether it’s washing dishes, washing our clothes, or taking a shower, one thing is for sure: soap helps us be as clean as we can be.

 

Unfortunately, bar soap can sometimes get a bad rap. That’s because there are many misconceptions about the bar of soap , but you should not take them at face value, below you can learn more about these myths.

1. Bar of soap used by third parties can transmit germs

People tend to fear a bar of soap that has been used by someone else. We understand. But you should know that germs cannot be transferred from the bar of soap to your body if you use it. Tip: Just make sure the bar has time to dry completely before using it.

Bar soap contains elements that help you naturally clean yourself once it is dry. So if you share a shower, be sure to keep the soap out of the water and wait until it’s completely dry to use it.

 2. Antibacterial soap is better than regular bar soap.

While antibacterial soap has its benefits, it is by no means more effective than regular soap at killing disease-causing germs, according to the CDC. “Antibacterial” soap simply means that the soap has added active antimicrobial ingredients, but the FDA says there is no evidence that antimicrobial soap products make or keep people healthier than regular soap.

3. Bar soap dries your skin

By contrast, bar soap contains a large number of fatty oils that keep skin moisturized, hydrated, and replenished. Many people believe that liquid soap helps to moisturize the skin better simply because of its silky smooth texture and while it can keep you hydrated, but bar soap is much better for this kind of thing.

4. Bar soap is more expensive than liquid.

In contrast, Americans spend much more on liquid soap, about $ 2.7 billion (including shower gels and bath gel) than on bar soap, which is about $ 1.5 billion, according to a 2012 study by Mintel. , based in Chicago. investigation firm.

Also, people actually tend to use more liquid soap compared to bar soap, probably because it’s so easy to get a lot out of the bottle, which means more can be wasted. In fact, people use seven times more liquid soap per wash than bar soap, according to a study published in Environmental Science & Technology .

5. Bar soap creates more environmental waste

Liquid soap is actually the culprit here. Every year, about 270 million of those bulky plastic bottles and dispensers are thrown away because they are not recycled. And in general, the process of creating liquid soap requires more energy for the production and disposal of packaging. The bar soap only contains a small cardboard box and the actual bar disappears upon use.

Dr. Eric Jackson

By Dr. Eric Jackson

Dr. Eric Jackson provides primary Internal Medicine care for men and women and treats patients with bone and mineral diseases, diabetes, heart conditions, and other chronic illnesses. He is a Washington University Bone Health Program physician and is a certified Bone Densitometrist. Dr. Avery is consistently recognized in "The Best Doctors in America" list.

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