Let's talk about soaps

[Thrif-t]

I Also, before I used a new big bar of soap I opened it and let it dry out for awhile before using so it would be harder and last longer.

Yep my mom always did that and I still do it to this day. I have different soaps in different areas. Ivory at the sink in my bathroom to wash my face. Dial in my DH's bathroom and hall and downstairs bathroom. Kids shower has either dial, irish spring or lever in. We got a new shower in our master so we use liquid soap to keep it cleaner.

And I'm getting lazy I just throw away the old little soap, I can't be bothered trying to adhere it to another. I guess that's what happens when you get a little disposable income

[bennkar]

Uh, really? I am totally not a germaphobe but that sounds pretty gross even to me. Finding a random bar of soap outdoors from god knows where that had been chewed on by an animal and you took it home and are using it to bathe? Just to save a dollar? I'll pass on that level of frugality.

Well as the soap is used whatever is on it washes away - no? I got the dirt off in the bucket and then in the shower first time I just ran water over it for a few minutes and made sure it got down to looking normal again. Any dirt or germs should have long since gone down the drain. I looked at it as not wasting the bar - I certainly have the money for new soap if I want to buy it. It was more of an amusing story - so I thought.

[TexasHusker]

Uh, really? I am totally not a germaphobe but that sounds pretty gross even to me. Finding a random bar of soap outdoors from god knows where that had been chewed on by an animal and you took it home and are using it to bathe? Just to save a dollar? I'll pass on that level of frugality.

If you think that sounds gross, consider our ancestors used to use buckets of URINE to clean clothes. Apparently the ammonia did the trick.

[disneysteve]

If you think that sounds gross, consider our ancestors used to use buckets of URINE to clean clothes. Apparently the ammonia did the trick.

Well you also have to consider that probably the #1 cause of longer life expectancy in the last century wasn't antibiotics or any other medical advances. It was better sanitation. Running water. Not throwing trash into the streets. Clean water supplies. Recognition of what caused disease and working to minimize exposure to those things.

[FrugalFish]

actually this is a great topic. My wife gives me a hard time because I use a bar of soap to wash my hair. People can spend $ hundreds per year on bottles of fancy potions just to wash their hair. It's still just soap!

As I've gotten older, sometimes I have problems with my hair getting really oily and I'll just resort to using palmolive dish soap on my hair. It works great if followed by a mild conditioner.

Bar soap, I use ivory. When it gets too small to handle, it goes into the gardening supplies. Dissolved bars of ivory are great for pest control.

[creditcardfree]

Well you also have to consider that probably the #1 cause of longer life expectancy in the last century wasn't antibiotics or any other medical advances. It was better sanitation. Running water. Not throwing trash into the streets. Clean water supplies. Recognition of what caused disease and working to minimize exposure to those things.

I wish more people would realize this! Sanitation is what has helped with disease prevention. If only we (or charities, or governments, or whoever) would help third world countries get clean drinking water, and indoor toilets. This leads to overall better health than the other options that have been put forth.

[msomnipotent]

I just buy two boxes of this white bar of soap from Costco and we are good for a year. If you want a bar of soap that you can clean your floors, your clothes, and your body with, get some Fels-Naptha. My grandmother was addicted to it.

[terri77]

I just get rid of it when it gets small enough to frustrate me. I use liquid soap to wash my hands. Though, with the amount of soap scum that I get in my shower I'm considering switching to shower gel. I haven't made the switch yet because I feel like bar soap lathers better.

[Gailete]

I use bar soap in the shower, Jergen's which is one of the few that I'm not allergic to. I am inundated with liquid soaps to try from Amazon. can't remember the last time I had to buy that. I also haven't bought shampoo for ages. I get to use the fancy expensive stuff to review for Amazon. I do miss my Suave and the peach or coconut fragrances. Don't know why Amazon never gives me bar soap to try. I also get sent conditioner which usually comes with the shampoo. I use my bar soap until it is a sliver and then seal it onto the new bar. I haven't bought it in so long I don't know if they still make it. Last time I bought it, I had trouble locating it, so I got a bunch.