A handmade bar can last a long time if it gets a chance to dry out between uses. A few simple habits make a big difference.
Make your bar last longer
- Use a draining soap dish. Pick one with slats, ridges or holes so water runs off. A bar sitting in a puddle gets soft and mushy.
- Keep it out of the shower stream. Store it where the water doesn't hit it directly, like a shelf or corner caddy.
- Let it dry between uses. Good airflow around the bar helps it firm back up.
- Rotate two bars. If your shower gets a lot of use, alternate between two bars so each one dries fully.
- Store extras somewhere dry. Keep spare bars in a cool, dry spot, like a linen closet or drawer, until you need them.
Why is my bar "sweating"?
Sometimes you'll see little beads of moisture on a handmade bar, especially in a steamy bathroom or a humid summer. That's normal.
Cold process soap keeps its natural glycerin, and glycerin pulls moisture from the air. In a humid room, that moisture can collect on the surface of the bar. It doesn't mean anything is wrong with your soap.
To help:
- Store spare bars away from the bathroom.
- Give the bar more airflow, or wipe it dry.
- Keep bars out of sealed plastic in humid weather.
Got a small slice left?
Press it onto the wet surface of a new bar. After a few uses the two pieces stick together, and nothing goes to waste.
Curious why handmade soap behaves this way? Read What is cold process soap?