Does anyone else use bars of soap instead of shower gel?

Eleven Benevolent Elephants · 14-11-2020 3:33pm #1

I use unscented Tesco brand soap bars. They cost 50 cent each and last about 2 weeks, showering every day.

It's much more cost effective than shower gel and more environmentally friendly. Wrapped in a small wrapper like a chocolate bar instead of a big lump of plastic.

Odelay · 14-11-2020 3:36pm

Female - soap bars

I do.

Seamai · 14-11-2020 3:39pm

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

I use unscented Tesco brand soap bars. They cost 50 cent each and last about 2 weeks, showering every day.

It's much more cost effective than shower gel and more environmentally friendly. Wrapped in a small wrapper like a chocolate bar instead of a big lump of plastic.

My mum asked me recently to buy her a few bars of soap, I was surprised to find only 2 brands in bar form on the supermarket shelf, everything else was either shower gel or liquid hand soap, obviously bars have fallen out of fashion. I use one of those scrunchy things in the shower with a drop of shower gel to work up a good lather.

NIMAN · 14-11-2020 3:42pm

Made the switch about a year ago.

Dettol is my soap of choice, although have had some D'Terre Hermes too.

Only very occasionally use a shower gel now. I like the L'Oreal for Men ones and sometimes buy the odd one when they are reduced.

suicide_circus · 14-11-2020 3:44pm

We use a bar of soap to wash hands at the sink but shower gel in the shower i'm afraid

corner of hells · 14-11-2020 3:47pm

We use Swarfega ,none of this fancying around with your la di da gels and soaps.

Gorteen · 14-11-2020 3:52pm

Female - soap bars

I'm on my own on this one. I prefer a bar of soap and wouldn't mind trying shampoo in bar form too.

Thelonious Monk · 14-11-2020 3:55pm

Male - soap bars

Yes soap for me, a bar lasts forever. I keep one in my gym bag too and usually get a couple of months out of one bar. You can get vegan ones and ones free of palm oil in Boots.
The tough plastic used to make some of those shower gel containers will be seeping into the earth for centuries, getting in our food chain, and polluting our seas.

emo72 · 14-11-2020 3:56pm

Female - soap bars

All those shower gel bottles going to end up dumped in the ocean or something. It's totally depressing. Who decided that gel was better than soap. I wouldn't mind using plastic bottles if the supermarkets would let you refill them. So yeah soap me up to save the world.

Man with broke phone · 14-11-2020 3:59pm

If I drop the shower gel its already gone down the drain before my new cellmate bends down to grab it for me.

Multipass · 14-11-2020 3:59pm

I’ve started on my goal of zero waste by switching to bars everywhere in the house. Shampoo bars too. Such an easy step, and a mountain of plastic containers saved. I’m upset that it took me this long to wake up.

Signore Fancy Pants · 14-11-2020 4:00pm

Female - shower gel

Soap bars?

Nope, brillo pads and scouring powder does the job.

Gorteen · 14-11-2020 4:01pm

Female - soap bars

Multipass wrote: »

I’ve started on my goal of zero waste by switching to bars everywhere in the house. Shampoo bars too. Such an easy step, and a mountain of plastic containers saved. I’m upset that it took me this long to wake up.

Where do you get the shampoo bars?

Pistachio19 · 14-11-2020 4:08pm

Male - shower gel

I switched to soap bars in the past year - currently using dove. Have bought some lovely handmade soaps as gifts.

SteM · 14-11-2020 4:10pm

Female - soap bars

Switched back to bars of soap about 18 months ago after I noticed how many bottles of shower gel myself and the young lad were getting through. I don't have enough hair to worry about using shampoo and conditioner

Dial Hard · 14-11-2020 4:12pm

Gorteen wrote: »

Where do you get the shampoo bars?

Lush do them.

I've switched to bar soap for handwashing but still use gel (albeit an organic, vegan one in recycled packaging) in the shower. Got that in a goody bag at an event. When it's gone I probably change to a shower bar too.

L'Occitane have some really nice soaps and have a brilliant sustainability policy, if anyone is looking for recommendations. Handmade Soap Company are also great, and Irish.

14-11-2020 4:13pm

Female - soap bars

Signore Fancy Pants wrote: »

Soap bars?

Nope, brillo pads and scouring powder does the job.

If you're near a farm you could pop down and get dipped along with the sheep.

ShagNastii · 14-11-2020 4:16pm

Female - shower gel

I went through a phase of using soap for a good bit to mitigate the excess plastic.

It is one of those that is really noticed when you are going the bins.

Worked great but missed the Lime/Tea Time shower gel. Moved to using the larger bottles that last an age.

hynesie08 · 14-11-2020 4:24pm

You can get shower soap which leathers up a bit better, I switched to a sandlewood one about a year ago, but the trader I buy off is out of work due to restrictions, I feel cleaner and the scent lasts longer.

The Continental Op · 14-11-2020 4:24pm

Female - soap bars

Are there a lot of dirty women around here

From the results so far 13 men voting to wash and only one women.

Although maybe thats the wrong conclusion

ExMachina1000 · 14-11-2020 4:27pm

Multipass wrote: »

I’ve started on my goal of zero waste by switching to bars everywhere in the house. Shampoo bars too. Such an easy step, and a mountain of plastic containers saved. I’m upset that it took me this long to wake up.

Are you collecting the shower water for other purposes or does it just go down the drain and is wasted

Jimbob1977 · 14-11-2020 4:30pm

Alan Partridge:

Well, they will withstand at best, one aggressive body scrub.

They start of the size of mini Frisbees and end up like actual-size Paracetamol.

Gregor Samsa · 14-11-2020 4:40pm

Female - soap bars

Soap here. Don’t like the feel of shower gel on my skin, and the extra plastic bottles. I also don’t like scented stuff, so I use non-scented soap.

Plus “dropping the shower gel” doesn’t have the same sense of adventure.

bodhrandude · 14-11-2020 4:44pm

Female - soap bars

Dove is my go to shower soap at the moment, I find that a lot of shower gels smell too chemically sometimes.

monkeysnapper · 14-11-2020 4:48pm

Female - shower gel

We bought a few bars of carbolic soap at start of lockdown when we couldn't get hand sanitizer.

We still use it now but not in shower .... a good bottle of lynx africa shower gel for me .. or I use tea tree shampoo from aldi.... christ that stuff it potent, you really know your using it!!!!!

Its especially good when you have just done a 100k cycle and you have sore bits below and you wash yourself with the tea tree .... you know your still alive anyway

ByTheSea2019 · 14-11-2020 4:51pm

Male - shower gel

I use bar soap but this came up in conversation at work and I was the only one out of about 10. It made be a bit paranoid. Is it not effective enough? My sister and I usually tell each othe what we want for Christmas and I say some nice bars of soap please.

r93kaey5p2izun · 14-11-2020 4:58pm

Silcocks Base, not sure which option to choose!

Rubberchikken · 14-11-2020 5:01pm

Been doing it here for years.
We get the Pure soap bars in also. They're actually very good and no reaction on sensitive skin on one family member.

Blondini · 14-11-2020 5:03pm

Dishwasher tablet and an upturned lawnmower.

The Continental Op · 14-11-2020 5:13pm

Female - soap bars

Probably sounds contrary but I use both. I'm sensitive to something I've never worked out exactly what but Aveeno shower gel really helps. The problem is that its not much use on stinky arm pits so I keep a bar of soap handy to give them a really good scrub before I use the shower gel.

Glen Immal · 14-11-2020 5:16pm

Female - soap bars

Switched to Micheals wool fat shaving soap when I ditched the disposable plastic razors for old fashioned safety razor blades. (Huge plastic and aerosol can waste saving there)
They also do a bath soap, which is so good I now buy it in bulk off amazon. Guests have commented how good it is when they use our bathroom.

Multipass · 14-11-2020 6:48pm

Gorteen wrote: »

Where do you get the shampoo bars?

I buy them from a friend who makes them, sells in local markets.

Man Vs ManUre · 14-11-2020 6:52pm

With a shower gel you can use it to wash your hair also. Can you do that with a bar of soap?? Having to use 2 separate during a shower would be a real pain in the ass.

3d4life · 14-11-2020 11:07pm

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

I use unscented Tesco brand soap bars. They cost 50 cent each and last about 2 weeks, showering every day.

It's much more cost effective than shower gel and more environmentally friendly. Wrapped in a small wrapper like a chocolate bar instead of a big lump of plastic.

Is that the same soap that you can buy a pack of 4 for €1 in Aldi ?

Of course I use soap - what else would you use

Hard Cases should try Wrights Coal Tar Soap

Sardonicat · 14-11-2020 11:13pm

3d4life wrote: »

Of course I use soap - what else would you use

Wire brush and dettol?

Is it still possible to get Pears soap? The shower gel just doesn't smell the same.

bee06 · 14-11-2020 11:24pm

I tried to switch to a bar (shampoo and shower gel replacements) but the shampoo one didn’t suit my hair and I find the soap bars very drying on my skin. Must keep trying to find one that suits but the trial and error is a pain.

angel eyes 2012 · 14-11-2020 11:24pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

Lush do them.

I've switched to bar soap for handwashing but still use gel (albeit an organic, vegan one in recycled packaging) in the shower. Got that in a goody bag at an event. When it's gone I probably change to a shower bar too.

L'Occitane have some really nice soaps and have a brilliant sustainability policy, if anyone is looking for recommendations. Handmade Soap Company are also great, and Irish.

Just to note, L'Occitane sell their products in China where it is mandatory to test all cosmetics on animals. I gave up buying their stuff years ago.

I use Lush products as much as possible now. Their soaps last much longer than shower gel.

3d4life · 14-11-2020 11:24pm

Sardonicat wrote: »

...Is it still possible to get Pears soap? The shower gel just doesn't smell the same.

Yes, it is

nothing like it

used to be able to buy it in NI. Are there any shops in the Republic selling it ? ( beware that the Alo Vera version is an imposter :mad: )

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SouthWesterly · 15-11-2020 2:38am

Multipass wrote: »

I’ve started on my goal of zero waste by switching to bars everywhere in the house. Shampoo bars too. Such an easy step, and a mountain of plastic containers saved. I’m upset that it took me this long to wake up.

I buy 5L containers and reuse small bottles

RandomViewer · 15-11-2020 2:43am

Wash first with soap then showergel

JustAThought · 15-11-2020 2:57am

Male - shower gel

RandomViewer wrote: »

Wash first with soap then showergel

I buy the 4 pack of palmolive bars & use them in the shower for the nice rubbing feeling & to actually get clean with & the sometimes linger there & top it iff with the fancy smelly gels I aM given in droves for christmas.

I used buy Dove soap occasionally but since the first lockdown it has changed totally & now has a bad aftersmell and suet-ey feel to it. I din’t like waste but actually threw the remaining ones out the other day.

I use Dove squirty handwash for the kitchen and bathroom - its quick and handy and ‘tastes’ totally different to the bars - and I don’t like sharing bars of soap communally!

BTW - since when are fancy handmade
bars of soap e7-e12. And candles e25+ What is wrong with people paying these prices!?!!!

PommieBast · 15-11-2020 3:03am

Female - soap bars

Why does Fight Club spring to mind..

Vita nova · 15-11-2020 3:35am

I've been using Irish Spring Soap ever since it successfully brought Bobby Ewing back to life.

Ficheall · 15-11-2020 3:45am

If you stick a bottle cap in the bottom of a bar of soap, it raises the bar off the sink/shelf so you reduce the amount of soap that just dissolves when it's left sitting in even a tiny bit of water.
If you stick a bottle cap in the bottom of a bottle of shower gel, it just leaks everywhere.

the_syco · 15-11-2020 4:08am

Female - shower gel

Use shower gel. Soap doesn't agree with me.

Man Vs ManUre · 15-11-2020 11:42am

angel eyes 2012 wrote: »

Just to note, L'Occitane sell their products in China where it is mandatory to test all cosmetics on animals. I gave up buying their stuff years ago.

I use Lush products as much as possible now. Their soaps last much longer than shower gel.

That’s very nice of the Chinese to wash the animals also. The Chinese are a great bunch of lads.

15-11-2020 2:19pm

Female - soap bars

I'm due my shower again in 5 days time, the month has flown by. I'm really looking forward to trying out some new soap.

Canis Lupus · 15-11-2020 2:36pm

Sod of turf here, none of your fancy city soap for me!

15-11-2020 2:40pm

Female - soap bars

Soap.....dove for extra sensitive skin

If i used most shower gels, Id be red raw from the itch

hamburgham · 15-11-2020 2:47pm

Male - shower gel

I have used soap for years but impossible to find a decent soap tray. I have a shiny metal looking one which has rusted. So far, I haven’t been able to find one with good drainage or that won’t shatter if it falls into the bath or onto the floor.

Dial Hard · 15-11-2020 3:11pm

3d4life wrote: »

Yes, it is nothing like it used to be able to buy it in NI. Are there any shop in the Republic selling it ? ( beware that the Alo Vera version is an imposter :mad: )

My local chemist sells it, Pure Pharmacy in Perrsytown. I bought a bar earlier this year and the smell was just so evocative - straight back to my paternal grandparents' house!

Does anyone else use bars of soap instead of shower gel?

What do you use? 288 votes

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