The Best Bar Soap

Handwashing is so important to our health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out that handwashing with soap can reduce respiratory infections by 16%, prevent foodborne illness and cut diarrheal disease-associated deaths by 50%. The organization also states that more than half of the healthy population has Staphylococcus aureus living on their skin. You can see how important hygiene is, which is why you’ll want to shop around for the best bar soap.

Start off by looking for a bar soap that is able to provide a deep clean. You want the soap to be able to remove any excess oils and impurities from your skin, not just dirt. Dial Antibacterial Deodorant Bar Soap is a good choice, as it contains antibacterial properties that help remove germs from the surface of your skin. It also rinses clean without leaving any residue behind.

Make sure the bar soap you select doesn’t leave your skin dry, as dry and cracked skin is more susceptible to germs. Dove Go Fresh Cucumber & Green Tea Bar Soap contains 1/4 moisturizing cream to hydrate skin and provide a natural moisture barrier. Other bar soaps contain aloe, which is not only great for moisturizing skin, but also excellent for healing and nourishing the skin.

Look for a bar soap with natural ingredients. Something like the Yardley London Aloe & Avocado Moisturizing Bar Soap is a better choice. It’s made using natural ingredients like avocado and olive oil extracts. It uses herbs and citrus notes to give the bar a pleasant fragrance.

Consider a bar soap that provides odor protection. For example, the Irish Spring Deodorant Bar Soap has a fresh invigorating scent that not only wakes you up first thing in the morning, but also provides 12-hour protection against odor. After each wash, you’ll feel fresh and clean and ready to conquer the day.

• Some bar soaps are specifically pH-balanced for your face, so it’s important to read the product label if you want a soap that is best for your face and body.
• You can save the small slivers of soap that are hard to handle when you’ve used most of the bar soap. These slivers together can be melted and molded to form a new bar of soap.
• You can extend the life of your bar soap by using a washcloth or loofah instead of your hands. A good lather will absorb into the washcloth versus simply rinsing off your hands in a matter of seconds.
• It’s a good idea to place bar soap in a soap dish with built-in holes when not in use. This allows for proper air flow, so the bar can dry and not melt away from excess water.
• You’ll find bar soap comes in handy for more than just washing your skin. It can be rubbed on the edge of a drawer to keep it from sticking, prevent a mirror from fogging during a hot shower, pinpoint a leak in your child’s pool and unstick a zipper.
• Bar soap is typically sold in packs, so you’ll need to divide the total cost of the soap by the number of bars in the set to get the price per bar. When you compare the price per bar, you’ll find that Dial Antibacterial Deodorant Bar Soap and Irish Spring Deodorant Bar Soap are among the most affordable. You’ll pay a moderate price for the Dove Go Fresh Cucumber & Green Tea Bar Soap, while the Yardley London Aloe & Avocado Moisturizing Bar Soap commands the highest price per bar.