How to Care for Your Bar

A quality handmade soap bar is an investment in your skin — and with a little care, it can last significantly longer than you might expect. The secret isn't complicated. It comes down to one thing: keeping your bar dry between uses.

Get a Good Soap Dish

This is the single most impactful thing you can do. A soap dish that drains well — one with slats, ridges, or a raised platform — allows air to circulate under and around your bar so it can dry out completely between showers. A bar sitting in a puddle of water will soften, dissolve, and go to waste fast. Avoid flat, solid-bottomed dishes that trap water.

Use a Washcloth or Loofah

Rather than rubbing the bar directly on your skin repeatedly, lather it onto a washcloth, loofah, or bath sponge instead. You'll use less soap per wash, get a richer lather, and extend the life of your bar considerably.

Store Extras Properly

Unopened bars actually benefit from a little aging — the longer they cure, the harder and longer-lasting they become. Store extra bars unwrapped (or loosely wrapped in paper) in a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight and humidity. Avoid plastic wrap, which traps moisture and can cause sweating or rancidity over time.

The Bottom Line

A handmade soap bar that's cared for properly can last 4 to 6 weeks or more with daily use. The bars that dissolve in two weeks are almost always the victims of a bad soap dish and a wet shower shelf — not the soap itself. Treat your bar well, and it will take care of your skin in return.