ARTICLE - "5 MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THAT BAR OF SOAP IN THE BATHROOM"

5 MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THAT BAR OF SOAP IN THE BATHROOM 

from the TIP HERO web site
(http://tiphero.com/5-myths-aabout-bar-soap/) 

Let’s talk about soap, shall we? We all use it, after all. Whether it’s to do dishes, wash our clothes, or clean ourselves in the shower, one thing’s for sure: Soap helps us be the cleanest we can be.

Personally, we’re huge fans of bar soap over any other kind. Unfortunately, however, bar soap can sometimes get a bad rep. That’s because there are a lot of misconceptions out there about the badness of bar of soap—but don’t believe them.

We’re here to debunk some of the most common misconceptions we always hear about bar soap. Get ready to be mystified.

1.    Myth #1: A communal bar of soap can pass on germs bar of soap that has been used by someone else. 

People tend to get crept out by a bar of soap that’s been used by someone else. We get it. But know that can germs can’t actually be transferred from the bar of soap to your body if you use it. 

Tip: Just make sure the bar has time to fully dry before using it on yourself. Bar soap contains elements that help it naturally clean itself once it’s dry. So if you share a shower, be sure to store the soap outside of the water, and wait until it’s fully dry to use it.

2.    Myth #2: Antibacterial is better than regular bar soap

While antibacterial soap has its benefits, it’s in no way more effective than regular soap for killing disease-causing germs, according to the CDC. “Antibacterial” simply means that the soap has active antimicrobial ingredients added to it, but the FDA says there’s no evidence that antimicrobial soap products make or keep people healthier than regular soap.

3.    Myth #3: Bar soap dries out your skin

On the contrary, bar soap actually contains a host of fatty oils that keep your skin moisturized, hydrated, and replenished. Many people believe that liquid soap helps moisture your skin better simply because of its smooth and silky texture, and while it can keep you moisturized, bar soap is much better for this kind of thing.

4.    Myth #4: Bar soap is more expensive than liquid

Quite the reverse—Americans spend much more on liquid soap—about $2.7 billion (which includes shower gels and body wash) than they do on bar soap, which accounts for about $1.5 billion, according to a 2012 study by Mintel, a Chicago-based research firm. Additionally, people actually tend to go through liquid soap much faster than they do bar soap, probably because it’s so easy to squeeze a lot out of the bottle, which means a lot can go to waste. In fact, people use seven times more liquid soap per washing than bar soap, according to a study published in Environmental Science and Technology.

5.    Myth #5: Bar soap creates more environmental waste

Liquid soap is actually the culprit here. Each year, about 270 million of those plastic pump bottles and bulky dispensers get dumped into the trash, as they aren’t recycled. And in general, the process of creating liquid soap requires more energy for packaging production and disposal. Bar soap only contains a small cardboard box and the actual bar disappears as you use it!