Soap is such a staple in a home that you may not even stop to consider the kind you have: usually either bar soap or liquid soap. It's just something you're so used to picking up that it's become a non-decision.
Both have their pros and cons, which is why we have asked professional cleaners for their thoughts to determine the winner.
Luckily for our cleaning supply checklists, our experts conclude that there is only room for one kind of soap in our households – here's why.
Bar soap: Pros and cons
Coming in so many shapes, sizes, and lovely packaging, bar soaps are a long-standing essential cleaning tool favored by many looking for an aesthetically pleasing sink-side. However, these trusty bars aren't without their cons. Karina Toner, professional cleaner and operations manager at Spekless, breaks down the pros of bar soap, and Carolina Kazimierski, president and co-owner of Sophia's Cleaning Service, delves into the cons.
Pros of bar soap
- The product can be more affordable: Karina begins, 'Depending on what brand of soap you like, bar soap can usually be cheaper or work out as being more cost effective because the product lasts longer than a liquid version.' You'll be able to go about your day and tackle the hardest household cleaning tasks, then wash your hands for many weeks on end using the same soap bar.
- They are durable, if stored correctly: 'If you look after your soap bars, they can last a really long time without turning yucky and falling apart.'
- They are often more thoughtfully packaged: 'It may not directly impact the product, but bar soaps tend to carry fewer packaging concerns, especially if you're trying to cut down on plastic.' So if you're trying to get into greener cleaning and make simple switches to help keep harmful microplastics out of your food and home, bar soaps can be a great option. Opting for bars made from all-natural ingredients, such as the Kirks Castile Bar Soap with premium coconut oil or the inexpensive Yardley London Oatmeal & Almond Nourishing Bath Bar Soap, both from Walmart, is another mindful cleaning tip to help your home and the planet.
Cons of bar soap
- They are hard to keep clean: Carolina counters, 'From a cleaner's perspective, soap bars can be a bit of a hotspot for germs, like kitchen sponges, as they're harder to clean. Especially if multiple people are using the same bar, this can become unhygienic.'
- They can leave residue in your bathroom, even when placed on a dish: 'Bars of soap tend to leave a gooey residue or film on soap dishes and sinks. As a result, we’re stuck figuring out how to clean a bathroom sink, scrubbing slimy soap holders and the crusty rings they leave.'
- They fall apart: 'Over time, bars of soap can get soggy and discolored, forming little cracks and breaking into little pieces and becoming harder to use and store. This doesn't happen with neatly-contained liquid soap.'
Liquid soap: Pros and cons
If you're on team liquid soap, you'll be glad to hear that your favorite cleaning essential comes with many pro points alongside its cons. Here, Kathy Turley, professional cleaner and marketing director at Home Clean Heroes, shares liquid soap's pro points, and Alessandro Gazzo of Emily's Maids of Dallas details the cons.
Pros of liquid soap
- It's more hygienic: Kathy shares, 'Let’s be real — we’ve all seen a mushy, well-used bar of soap sitting in a soap dish. With liquid soap, there’s no shared bar being handled by everyone. Yes, we’re all pressing the same pump, but that’s a quick touch with hands that are about to be washed anyway, and not a full-on lather session with a slimy, used bar!' Switching to liquid soap is just one more way to make a healthy 'home microbiome' in your space.
- It's convenient to use: 'One squirt, done. Easy to dispense, easy to store, and often refillable.'
- It can look better by your sink: 'No slimy residue sitting in a dish. The counter stays tidier, helping you to stay on top of organizing a bathroom countertop, and generally remains more mess-free.'
- There's a wider variety available: 'Liquid soaps come in endless scents, formulas, and added benefits (moisturizing, exfoliating, antibacterial – you name it).'
- It's less likely to clog your drains: 'What do you do when your bar soap breaks into all those little shreds? Those pesky shreds can sometimes clog the sink drain.'
Cons of liquid soap
- It's typically less eco-friendly: On the other hand, Allesandro argues, 'If you’re into eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products, I think bar soap is the best option, especially if it comes with plastic-free packaging.'
- It's less abrasive and can slide off of your hands instead of cleaning them: 'If you’re looking for something a bit more abrasive, you should go with bar soap because the friction will be more efficient to remove impurities.'
- It's less cost-effective for households with multiple sinks: 'I’d probably have to say bar soap is the best option if you have a bathroom for each member of your household. It’s cheap, eco-friendly, and lasts for a long time.'
Which soap do experts swear by?
Our cleaning experts unanimously came to the decision that liquid soap is the winner and that switching away from bar soap is one of many cleaning habits to quit for a happier, easier life. This is mainly due to the plus points liquid soap has over bar soap for its hygiene factor. Though the experts acknowledge how bar soap can be a great option if it's only being used by one person.
Carolina says, 'Between the two, liquid soap gets my vote for everyday use since it’s cleaner and more convenient, especially in shared spaces. However, I’ll credit bar soap for being a bit more eco and budget-friendly.'
Kathy agrees, adding, 'For the soap debate, ironically, my husband uses bar soap in the shower, I use body wash ,and we are team liquid soap at all the other sinks in the house.' In a circumstance like this, where the bar of soap belongs to one person only, having both kinds of soap in your home will still contribute to an achievable cleaning routine.
Alessandro further echoed this, saying, 'If you share your bathroom with other people, either family members or guests, liquid soap is the best option for sure, and it can look nicer aesthetically if you decant the soap into a nice container.
Karina concisely concludes, 'For me, liquid soap wins across the board. It’s neater, more hygienic, and doesn’t leave me scraping soap sludge off a countertop. Bar soap might have its place for single-person households or a perfectly staged guest bathroom — but in the average household without showroom standard bathrooms where you're trying to clean your house when you're too busy, adding more soap scum? Hard pass.'
Cleaning essentials
Mrs. Meyers soaps like this one are packed with essential oils and ingredients such as aloe vera which are gentle on your skin.
Purchasing a soap refill bottle like this is a more cost efficient and environmentally-friendly way to top up your soap pumps as they contain less plastic components than soap bottles.
These J.r Watkins soap refills are cruelty-free and their pouches are made from as little single-use plastic as possible. Plus, they can be recycled once empty.
Coming in seven different scents, these vegan-friendly soap refill pouches are fruity, refreshing and friendly to mother Earth.
This simple soap pump will match any kitchen or bathroom, and you'll always know how much soap you have left.
If you'd rather opt for something with a bit of color, this fluted glass design is stunning but still allows you to keep track of how much soap you've got left.
Meet the experts
Now you're all clued up on the pros and cons of different kinds of soap, it's worth learning what you should never consider washing with soap around your home. Here, professional cleaners detail why you should never clean these seven things with soap and what to do instead.
