Does Natural Soap Last Longer Than Store-Bought Bars?
I hear two opposite things about handmade soap: "It lasts forever!" and "It melts so fast!" Both can be true. It depends on how the soap is made and how you store it.
How It's Made Matters
We make our soap using the cold-process method. After we pour it, each bar cures for weeks. During that time, extra water slowly leaves the bar, and it gets harder. A well-cured bar lasts longer in your shower.
The ingredients matter too. Every bar we make has shea butter, coconut milk and kaolin clay. Shea butter helps make a firm, long-lasting bar.
Why Some Natural Soap Melts Fast
- It wasn't cured long enough.
- It's made mostly of soft oils.
- It's sitting in water.
What About Store-Bought Bars?
Many store bars are pressed hard in a factory, so they can last a long time. But many of them use detergents like sulfates, which can dry out your skin. Lasting a long time isn't the only thing that matters. How your skin feels matters too.
How to Make Any Bar Last Longer
- Use a soap dish that drains.
- Keep it out of the shower spray.
- Let it dry between uses.
- Try a soap on a rope that hangs and drips dry.
For more tips, read How to Stop Soap From Dissolving.
Our Tip
Buying a few bars at once? Store the extras in a dry closet. They'll keep curing and get even harder.
A little about us: I'm Gracie, a third-generation soap maker. My grandmother started our family's soap making, and I'm proud to carry it on. We're a small, faith-centered family business in Waddell, Arizona, and we make everything by hand in small batches.
