Bar Soap or Body Wash - which is preferred and what brands are best?

[mystang52]

I don't know if it's even made anymore, but I used to use Oilatum soap. I have dry skin. Then I switched to Aveeno liquid soap. I only use unscented version. It's not cheap, but it works for me.

 

[OldShooter]

My guess is that "body wash" is simply the marketeers' name for highly diluted soap sold at a much higher margin than bar soap. But basically the same stuff.

 

[Midpack]

My guess is that "body wash" is simply the marketeers' name for highly diluted soap sold at a much higher margin than bar soap. But basically the same stuff.

For people who want to buy mostly water (80%) along with their soap, and pay 6X, while piling up plastic (bottles) in landfills. Convenience is all the matters. YMMV

 

[athena53]

On the subject of plastics, I do try to cut down. I even use reusable glass containers for storing leftovers rather than zip-lock bags. But, in the overall scheme of things, the bulk of my plastic waste is from unnecessary packaging. Our town banned single-use plastic shopping bags. But the packaging around the products in the bags probably contains 100 or maybe 1000 times the plastic the bag itself is made from.

I agree. This is a big problem when I travel. Takeout meals are all encased in plastics. I do bring silverware with me (although I once had airport "security" people quietly confiscate an ordinary table knife in Bolivia.)

But back to the OT, I like it that hotels have stopped putting out single-use bottles for most purposes and have the dispensers in the bath. Now if they'd just label them clearly enough that I can read them without my glasses.

 

[pacergal]

Dove bar soap and place in a small sisal bag that hangs on a hook--soap lasts longer and dries out in between showers without being in a wet soap dish.
DH likes liquid pump soap, so he gets his own, but he has either a sisal bag or loofah to use, as the liquid soap lathers better and lasts longer with one ( all least he has discovered that).

 

[Gumby]

.....

Please give me your thoughts, recommendations and experiences! (asking a lot, I know)

For Gumby: I am NOT going to make soap like you do.

Well, thank you for thinking of me. As it so happens, I was in the middle of whipping up a batch of soap at the time you posted this. I'll cut it into bars tomorrow and then leave it out in the garage to dry for several months.

Even if I didn't make my own, I would stick to bar soap. Cheaper, less wasteful and infinitely less froufrou.

Dove bar soap and place in a small sisal bag that hangs on a hook--soap lasts longer and dries out in between showers without being in a wet soap dish.
......

I made a small platform out of hardware cloth, to sit in the soap dish and keep the bar elevated so that it will dry. It is not beautiful, but it is very functional.

 

[Walt34]

The dermatologist recommended Dove bar soap for dry skin, he didn't specify any scent so I get the unscented mostly because I don't want to smell like whatever flower is in style at the moment. DW gets her own soap, I have no idea what it is.

 

[motley]

We've always donated those soaps and shampoos/conditioners, etc. to the Women's Shelter. Perfect size for ladies who escaped with (hopefully) the clothes on their backs and not much else.

Excellent idea

 

[slaternuthink]

Yardley oatmeal and almond soap for me

Hehe,
Years ago, I brought a bar of cinnamon oatmeal soap on a backpacking trip. We left it on a rock to dry overnight. In the morning, the bar was gone.
The likely culprits were a mob of scruffy looking 'teenage' deer staring at us from short distance. I said "which one do you think ate it". Without missing a beat, my husband said "obviously the one with a foul mouth".
From then on, we packed a small container of Bronners liquid soap and hung it with our food.

 

[slaternuthink]

For my sensitive skin, I choose from an assortment of no or lightly scented artisan type bars I get at the natural foods store.
My husband likes unscented Kirks pure castile bar soap. He claims it lathers better than any other bar soap and lasts a long time.

 

[Texas Proud]

Also Dove... unscented...

We have a plastic soap 'dish' that is plastic with sticks holding the soap so it dries...

When they get small I use them for my face and 'glue' them together with soap (eventually)... I have had up to 10 bars welded together but it is always small... so probably only 3 or so at any time...

 

[audreyh1]

When our soaps get very small, DH collects them to use for hand soap when we are at a hotel. We hate opening a fresh soap for just a night or few. He puts them in a small ziplock which goes in an outside suitcase pocket because it is usually the last thing packed. Occasionally we’ll open a soap that seems particularly nice and it gets added to the collection when we leave. Been doing this for many many years.

 

[Gumby]

When I was young and sometimes lived with my grandmother, she had a small latching cage made of hardware cloth on the end of a stick. When the bits of soap got too small, she put them in the cage and then swished it around in the kitchen sink to make soapy water for dishwashing.

 

[audreyh1]

When I was young and sometimes lived with my grandmother, she had a small latching cage made of hardware cloth on the end of a stick. When the bits of soap got too small, she put them in the cage and then swished it around in the kitchen sink to make soapy water for dishwashing.

Yeah, same here.

 

[braumeister]

When I was young and sometimes lived with my grandmother, she had a small latching cage made of hardware cloth on the end of a stick. When the bits of soap got too small, she put them in the cage and then swished it around in the kitchen sink to make soapy water for dishwashing.

That was in my youth as well. My mom got it from her mom, and I remember using it all the time in the 50s. Also, even to this day I won't throw out the sliver of soap in the shower, but press it into the next bar to keep using it.

 

[Koolau]

When I was young and sometimes lived with my grandmother, she had a small latching cage made of hardware cloth on the end of a stick. When the bits of soap got too small, she put them in the cage and then swished it around in the kitchen sink to make soapy water for dishwashing.

I've heard of using the left over little pieces of bar soap to wash clothes. Never tired it but I'm guessing it wold w*rk.

 

[Koolau]

Here is an interesting article on soap (origins, method of action, uses, adoption of, use against pathogens, etc.)

Why soap works

At the molecular level, soap breaks things apart. At the level of society, it helps hold everything together.

medicine.yale.edu

 

[latexman]

I've used Safeguard antibacterial bar soap for decades. I throw the little slivers away when I get a new bar out.

 

[Jerry1]

When I used bar soap, I was in the welding category. I would take the little sliver and press it on the new bar so they’d stick together and use up the little sliver in the normal course of showering.

 

[old medic]

We make our own soap... DW has a collection of recipe's. Uses coffee grounds in one.

 

[CaptTom]

I thought we weren't supposed to use antibacterial soap because it help the bacteria develop resistance. And decreases it in ourselves. Anyway, I don't like the smell of it so no problem there.

 

[Lakedog]

My husband likes unscented Kirks pure castile bar soap. He claims it lathers better than any other bar soap and lasts a long time.

I like Kirk's castile soap as well. Seems a bit pricey on Amazon but recently found it for much less at Walmart.

 

[imjustawarrior]

I used dove unscented for a very long time. A few years ago at a VRBO they had Suave bodywash and shampoo. I loved them. They work well and are cheap at Walmart. I made the switch.

 

[folivier]

We use Dove unscented bars. I absolutely hate Irish Spring and other strong scented soaps due to allergies or whatnot. Lava bars for cleaning my hands, but Lava is hard to find anymore.
BTW we like foaming pump soap for daily handwashing. DW makes it using a bit of Ivory liquid and lots of water. Much cheaper than buying the over scented pump soaps.
Gumby would you mind posting your soap recipe, or send it to me by PM?

 

[38Chevy454]

When I used bar soap, I was in the welding category. I would take the little sliver and press it on the new bar so they’d stick together and use up the little sliver in the normal course of showering.

I do the same thing.