A very Newbish question

[squatzilla801]

I'm looking to try some better body soaps and I have a couple questions. I've used Irish Spring and all the grocery store brands, and Dove is currently my favorite. My question is: do the nice ones last longer? I can barely get through a week with a bar of Dove, and I don't feel like I'm being too liberal with it. Also, besides scent, what advantage do the nice soap bars provide? Obviously YMMV, but I would appreciate some input.

[Stevew443]

I am not a user of "better" body soaps, but I am a bit frugal. One trick I learned from an old timer many years ago is to purchase a bar of soap before you need it, then remove it from the packaging and let it sit in a warm dry area for a week or two. The soap will harden a bit and will last much longer. It still does its job and you find that you get much more for your money.

[Krona Kruiser]

I am not a user of "better" body soaps, but I am a bit frugal. One trick I learned from an old timer many years ago is to purchase a bar of soap before you need it, then remove it from the packaging and let it sit in a warm dry area for a week or two. The soap will harden a bit and will last much longer. It still does its job and you find that you get much more for your money.

+1, my parents do this.
Also, a really nice soap bar is the Brut one you can find at the Dollar Tree. Usually, I just use the suave gels and put them on my luffa or body washing brush.

[squatzilla801]

Thanks for the tip, I'll have to try that

I am not a user of "better" body soaps, but I am a bit frugal. One trick I learned from an old timer many years ago is to purchase a bar of soap before you need it, then remove it from the packaging and let it sit in a warm dry area for a week or two. The soap will harden a bit and will last much longer. It still does its job and you find that you get much more for your money.

[cluelessdude]

I only use the better ones. They last longer for me: easily 2 months. You need to store them away from water in your shower. I find them better because they contain better ingredients. My dry skin needs the shea butter.

[eyebright]

Handmade, artisan soap (and I'm excluding melt and pour from this comparison) is better for your skin because it retains the natural glycerin that is removed from commercial soap. It's also usually made with better ingredients and more generous amounts of desirable ingredients like shea butter. Whether or not it will last longer than your commercial soap depends on many things, like how you treat it (keeping it dry between uses) and how it was made (formula, length of cure) but it should certainly last much much longer than a week!

[dpm802]

Don't judge a soap by how long it lasts. Using this logic, a VW beetle is a better car than a Rolls Royce because because it gets better mileage.

+1 to those who suggest hardening a soap by letting it air out for a week prior to first usage. This will extend the life a little bit, but don't expect miracles. You still need to let it dry out in between uses, so keep it in a soap dish or other area where it can drain off excess water.

One of my favorite soaps is Dettol Anti-Bac hand soap. I keep a bar at the kitchen sink for washing my hands when I'm cooking, and one bar will last about a year with daily use. But even if I had to replace it every two weeks, I'd still use it, because it does the job for me.

[Qhead]

I am not a user of "better" body soaps, but I am a bit frugal. One trick I learned from an old timer many years ago is to purchase a bar of soap before you need it, then remove it from the packaging and let it sit in a warm dry area for a week or two. The soap will harden a bit and will last much longer. It still does its job and you find that you get much more for your money.

That is too funny we used to make fun of my parents for doing that ... but obviously they are older and wiser!

[Bellac]

You don't necessarily have to go buy handmade artisan soaps. The fancy soaps that are sold at a discount from Ross or TJ Maxx is solid as well; definitely a step up from Dove or Irish Springs. They usually have better ingredients that are good for your skin and more of those said ingredients. From my experiences though, I use Ivory and what ever fancy soap that smells nice to me at Ross. I definitely notice that the artisan soaps last longer than Ivory, sometimes up to 6 weeks; I alternate the soaps though and I keep them dry between use.

[COHunter]

I'm one of those geeks that make their own soap. (not to save money...believe me on that...) I make it because it's fun and frankly it's better. Definitely unwrap your soap and let the water evaporate out of it. Also many commercially available big name "soaps" are more detergent bars than soap. Most of them have the glycerin harvested out so they can sell that as a byproduct to cosmetic companies. Most all true hand made soaps have the glycerin left in so it's a better moisturizer bar than many big brands.

[JoshuaNY]

I use Dove almost exclusively, I lik the moisturizing capabilities. That being said, it does not last as long as any other soap I have used.

But keeping it out of the water stream will lenghten its lifespan.

[airmech]

I love QCS soaps and I find i get 6 weeks to 8 weeks a bar. I would also look at Mystic Waters soaps, I have not used them but I have read nothing but great reviews of them here.

Tom

[michiganlover]

Also, a really nice soap bar is the Brut one you can find at the Dollar Tree.

+1

The Brut is a huge 7oz bar for $1. I cut it in half, as it's too easy to drop in it's large form. So really it's a mere .$50 a bar. I easily get two weeks from each half bar.

I quite like the Yardley bath soaps as well. Dollar Tree sells a couple of variations of them as well (Honey Crimson Rose, and Pomegranate Blossom). They smell great (I think the Yardley English Lavender is best smelling), and last a fairly good amount of time (3 weeks).

[squatzilla801]

Thanks for all the feedback. Do you guys find that the cheaper soaps dry you out? This has always been my experience, so I'm a little surprised to hear those recommendations.

[Go West Young Man]

How the heck are you going through a bar of soap a week? Dove should last you a month at least.