Written by Elizabeth Mika
Founder and Maker, Bramble & Bear™ Soap Co.
About this Editorial: This article addresses a common question about soap in general. It is intended as general educational information and does not refer specifically to Bramble & Bear soaps.
Both bar soap and liquid soap work well for handwashing and removing germs.¹
A bar of soap is touched again and again, so it is reasonable to wonder whether germs can remain on its surface—or pass from one person to another. The important distinction is that microorganisms being present on a surface is not the same thing as demonstrating that they are readily transferred during washing.
What Happens When a Used Bar Is Shared?
One study deliberately contaminated soap bars with Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at levels approximately 70 times higher than those previously reported on used soap bars. Sixteen people then washed with the contaminated bars using their normal handwashing method.
After washing, researchers could not detect either test bacterium on the participants’ hands.²
The study does not suggest that a used bar is sterile. Rather, it helps distinguish between microorganisms being detectable on a soap surface and those microorganisms actually transferring to the next person during normal washing.
Why Does Soap Work?
Soap and water work together to loosen and remove dirt, oils, germs and other material from the hands.
When soap is worked into a lather, soap molecules form structures called micelles, which help trap material so it can be carried away during rinsing. Friction during washing also contributes to the removal process.¹
Thorough washing matters. Current handwashing guidance recommends scrubbing with soap for about 20 seconds before rinsing with clean, running water.¹
Is Liquid Soap More Hygienic?
Available guidance does not establish a hygiene advantage for liquid soap over bar soap for ordinary handwashing. Both forms work well to remove germs.¹
Liquid soap can certainly be convenient, particularly in public settings where many people use the same washing station. But the format of the soap is only one part of the picture.
For everyday handwashing, using soap properly—whether it comes from a bar or a bottle—is more important than assuming one format is inherently more hygienic than the other.
What About Antibacterial Soap?
The word antibacterial may sound as though it offers an additional level of protection, but there is insufficient evidence that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps prevent illness better than plain soap and water in ordinary consumer use.³
Antibacterial soap raises a different set of questions about ingredients, regulation and intended use, so we will look at that separately in another Editorial article.
Keeping a Bar Between Uses
Allowing a bar to drain and dry between uses is a simple way to keep it in good condition.
A draining soap dish prevents the bar from sitting continuously in water and also helps handmade soap retain its shape and last longer.
There is no need to treat an ordinary household bar as though it must remain sterile between washes. Normal soap care and proper handwashing are the more practical considerations.
The Bottom Line
Both bar and liquid soap are effective choices for ordinary handwashing.¹ Research using deliberately contaminated soap bars also found no detectable transfer of the test bacteria to users’ hands after washing.²
A used bar does not have to be sterile to do its job. The evidence supports a straightforward approach: use soap, wash thoroughly, rinse well and allow the bar to drain between uses.
Related reading
Sources
¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Hand Hygiene Frequently Asked Questions” and “Handwashing Facts.” CDC states that both bar and liquid soap work well to remove germs and explains the roles of lather, micelles, scrubbing and friction in the handwashing process. (CDC)
² Heinze, J.E. and Yackovich, F., “Washing with contaminated bar soap is unlikely to transfer bacteria,” Epidemiology and Infection, 1988; Soap bars were deliberately contaminated with E. coli and P. aeruginosa at levels approximately 70 times higher than previously reported on used bars. Neither test bacterium was detected on the hands of the 16 participants after washing. (PubMed)
³ U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Skip the Antibacterial Soap; Use Plain Soap and Water,” and FDA Final Rule on Consumer Antiseptic Wash Products. FDA states that there is insufficient evidence that over-the-counter consumer antibacterial soaps are more effective than plain soap and water at preventing illness. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
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