Soap bars

Unused not used

I still have used soap bars that belonged to my mum who saved everything ‘ for best’ which must be over 50 years old. They have mostly lost their perfume but are still usable.

I would have said that it important to air it and keep it on a raised dish with as many drainage holes as possible. As you've tried all that without success, perhaps you could just get a soap dish where it's easy to get the slops out and use them for washing your hands every second or third wash to give the soap a chance to harden up between times. Also prevents waste as you are using what you would otherwise just rinse away.

My parents used to buy soap in larger batches and keep it in the cupboard for ages to harden up. I'm not sure if it helped, once the soap was exposed to water, but it might be an idea to try.

I put the paper the soap comes wrapped in in my knicker drawer until the smell has faded.

Faith in Nature for me too

Despite being careful to leave them as dry as possible the soaps I bought in Cyprus all went mushy. Really disappointing as I bought for friends too.

This is what I said too, so surprised about OP's reply that it also does. ???

Pears never goes mushy

We buy Faith in Nature soap in a value pack: www.faithinnature.co.uk/products/soap-gift-set?variant=40941532872855&gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI74eE9-Lj_gIVzMrVCh0PjgwYEAYYBSABEgKPR_D_BwE. It lasts longer than most.
The company has been providing environmentally friendly products since the mid 1970's and you can now buy refills for soap, shampoo etc from certain local providers.

Wow what a great shop, Dyke and Dean -thanks.

Ah thanks- was going to buy from a shop in Guildford- we went and it was ... closed down!

Dyke and Dean.. magnetic soap holder
Sorry link wont work!

Where can you stil buy those with a magnet? So soap hangs from holder?

My soap dish hold the soap on a slope with a large drainage slot at the bottom and therefore soap never goes mushy in it. It also takes up v little space. I have these at every wash basin.

Very surprised about Pears going mushy?!?

Our soap dish is a large abalone shell I found on a beach near Cape Town- with a plastic insert with holes in- but our limestone water is hard.

Thank you for all your suggestions. Yes, I use a soap dish with a drainage hole in it and have recently tried Pears and Dove, but both go mushy! The same with an olive oil one I bought in Cyprus. So I reckon it must be the effect of the water softener. I'll give Imperial Leather another try - years since I've bought that one, and the Waitrose ones too. I guess I'll just have to keep de-slushing the soap dish on a daily basis!

Soap bars are not petroleum based and do not go through as many chemical processes as liquid soap in manufacture so are the most eco option.

I have some really good draining soap dishes from JL preventing soap from going mushy. I like dove soap in the shower because it is moisturising.

OH likes a bar of soap, and Pears never goes mushy. I have several liquid soap dispensers, but refill from pouches to cut down on plastic and waste.

I also buy Waitrose and provided it does not smell of Lavender I will buy any type.

Body Shop Olive oil soap - the bar stays firm but it is important to keep it on a soap dish rather than sitting in a puddle

I buy off cuts of handmade soap from Celyn Soapery . I put the soap in a sisal bag and on a soap dish the great thing about the sisal bag is it makes the soap last longer and even when the soap has all gone there's still plenty trapped in the bag fibres. Then just wash the bag and reuse once dry.

I am allergic to ingredients in liquid soap, so always use soap in its original form. I find that the better quality soaps last longer, smell throughout their use and don’t go mushy, although I suspect that is something to do with standing it in water.

I use refills for liquid hand soap. Yes, there is initially a plastic bottle, but I have been using the same ones over and over. The sachets containing the refills are made mostly from recycled plastic and when empty can go in the recycling bin. It is also cheaper than buying new bottles.

Dove and L’Occitane are good, and husband likes Imperial Leather, but I use soap dishes with a hole in the bottom so water drains away. Stops the mush.

I use this type of soap dish which works well with Dove soap bars. Lots of choice on line.

I do that, too, Nanna. It’s always a treat to find a forgotten bar tucked away in a drawer somewhere!