Storing the soap bar: this way your soap will stay nice and hard for longer

A bar of soap lasts longest if it is allowed to dry properly between uses. Store it on a soap dish with ridges or holes, out of the water and out of direct sunlight, and cut a large bar into pieces if necessary. This prevents your soap from becoming a soft, crumbly mass and allows you to enjoy it for months longer.

Why a bar of soap runs out faster than you might think

Natural soap, such as that from The Highland Soap Company, contains no synthetic hardening agents often found in factory-made soap. This is good for your skin, but it also means that moisture affects the soap more quickly. If a bar is left sitting in a puddle of water, the outer layer literally dissolves before you have even had a chance to use it. The correct storage method therefore makes a real difference in how long your bar of soap lasts.

Choose a soap holder with drainage

The biggest culprit is stagnant water. A soap dish with ridges, holes, or a sloping surface ensures that water drains away immediately and the soap can dry on all sides. A flat dish without drainage is the fastest way to melt a bar of soap.

Let the soap dry thoroughly between uses.

Do not place your soap back in a damp corner immediately after showering. Give the bar a chance to air dry before closing the shower or bathroom again. Good ventilation in the bathroom also helps with this: the less moisture that lingers, the longer your soap will remain hard and firm.

Cut a large block into pieces

If you use a large bar of soap, cut it into two or three smaller pieces. Use one and store the rest in a dry place, for example in the linen closet. This way, no more soap is ever "lost" to a damp shower corner than necessary, and you also always have a fresh piece ready.

Store soap for a longer period

Do you have a stash of soap, for example a set from Highland Soap Company? Then wrap unused bars in greaseproof paper or a tea towel and store them in a cardboard box in a dry, dark place. Avoid a sealed plastic bag: air cannot circulate inside, and it is precisely that moisture that causes the soap to crumble or mold faster. A nice bonus: soap in the linen closet not only keeps things fresh, but it also gives your towels and bedding a subtle, fresh scent.

What you better not do

• Store soap in a sealed container or plastic bag
• Leaving the block lying in a puddle of water on the shower tray
• Store soap in a damp, dark place without ventilation.
• Use a large block at once without letting it dry in between.

With the right soap holder and a few simple habits, you can easily get twice as much out of your bar of soap. Curious about the difference between a bar of soap and liquid soap? You can read about it in our blog. Soap bar vs. liquid soap: which is truly more sustainable?