How to Make Your Soap Last Longer: Top Tips for Every Bar

Natural soaps are a pleasure to use, offering natural ingredients and a touch of luxury to your daily routine. However, if you find your bar disappearing faster than you’d like, you’re not alone. With a few simple habits and the right accessories, you can make your soap last much longer, saving money and reducing waste.

1. Keep Your Soap Dry Between Uses

The number one reason soap bars dissolve quickly is being left in water. Handmade soaps, in particular, are rich in natural oils and glycerine, making them more prone to softening if not allowed to dry out.

Tip

Use a well-draining soap dish, preferably one with raised ridges, slats, or holes to allow air to circulate and water to drain away. Avoid leaving your soap in the direct stream of the shower or in a puddle at the side of the bath.

2. Choose the Right Soap Dish

Not all soap dishes are created equal. The best ones are designed to keep your bar dry and firm:

• Drainage: Look for dishes with holes or slats to prevent water pooling.

• Material: Ceramic, bamboo, stainless steel, or natural stone are great choices. Avoid plastic, which can degrade and harbour bacteria.

• Easy to Clean: Select a dish that’s simple to rinse or wipe down, as soap residue can build up over time.

A good soap dish not only extends the life of your soap but also keeps your sink or bath area tidy.

3. Use a Loofah or Soap Saver Bag

A loofah isn’t just a great exfoliator, it also helps your soap last longer:

• More Lather, Less Soap: A loofah creates a rich lather from a small amount of soap, so you use less with each wash.

• Keeps Soap Drier: By lathering the loofah rather than rubbing the bar directly on your skin, your soap spends less time under running water.

• Economical: You’ll get more washes out of every bar, and you can use up every last sliver by popping small pieces into a soap saver bag.

Tip

Rinse and hang your loofah to dry after each use, and clean it regularly to keep it fresh and hygienic.

4. Cut Your Soap into Smaller Pieces

Try cutting it into halves or quarters. Use one piece at a time, keeping the rest dry and stored away. This is especially handy if you like to keep soap in multiple bathrooms.

5. Store Spares Properly

Keep extra bars in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Some people store spare soap in their linen cupboard, where it can act as a natural air freshener and continue to harden, making it last even longer when you do use it.

6. Lather Up with Care

Wet your hands or a flannel, rub the soap gently to create a lather, and then set the bar aside. Avoid leaving it under running water or soaking in the bath.

7. Rotate Your Bars

If you have more than one bar on the go, alternate between them. This gives each bar a chance to dry out fully between uses, helping them last longer.

Why Hiltwood Soaps Are Made to Last

All these tips will help you get the most from any handmade soap, but Hiltwood bars are especially well-suited to longevity:

Cured for Hardness

Hiltwood soaps are carefully cured for several weeks, allowing excess water to evaporate and resulting in a harder, longer-lasting bar.

Thoughtful Formulation

The blend of oils and butters in Hiltwood soap strikes the perfect balance between a rich, creamy lather and a firm texture that resists going mushy, making them ideal for use with a loofah or soap saver bag.

Generous Size and Easy to Portion

Hiltwood bars are generously sized and can easily be cut into smaller pieces without crumbling.

Minimal Residue

The natural ingredients rinse cleanly, leaving less residue on your soap dish and helping your bar stay dry and solid.

By following these simple habits and choosing a well-crafted bar like those from Hiltwood, you’ll enjoy every last bit of your soap, making your investment in quality British skincare go even further.