I want you to congratulate you now for ditching plastic dish soap for dish soap bars. This is a HUGE zero waste kitchen upgrade! I’ve whined about the scam that is liquid dish soap for YEARS now. & in case you missed it, here’s the short & sweet: 1 standard sized bottle of liquid dish soap is around 80% water 20% soap. So in reality, we’ve all been paying for WATER & a dibble of soap packaged in a plastic bottle. They contain fragrance, PFAS, & microplastic & I can’t stand to see it still being sold by the millions. When I say I’m glad you’re open minded to ditching the plastic bottle for bars, I’m SO grateful!
Here is a little guide on all the need to knows about switching over to dish soap bars
HOW TO USE
HOW TO STORE
WHAT NOT TO DO
WHAT PEOPLE DO WRONG
HOW TO USE:
- Wet your sponge, dish brush, or cloth first with warm to hot water (wooden dish brush)
- Rub it directly onto the soap bar until it lathers. Each lathering should wash 4-5 dishes. Be careful not to lather too much & waste the soap
- Wash dishes as usual
- A little soap goes a long way, start with less than you think. This soap bar is HIGHLY CONCENTRATED & should last you 75-100 washes
- Rinse dishes thoroughly after washing. Depending on how hard your water, you might need to do any extra rinse if you applied too much soap (again see bullet point 4 to prevent over soaping)
HOW TO STORE:
- Keep on a draining soap dish so it can dry between uses. see our: bamboo soap tray for best option
- Allow plenty of airflow around the bar by always keeping it lifted on the bamboo tray
- Store away from constant running water or direct spray from the faucet. I prefer to store mine right next to the faucet so it’s in view but up out of the sink
- Let the bar dry completely between uses for the longest lifespan
WHAT NOT TO DO:
- Don’t leave the bar sitting in a puddle of water
- Don’t soak the entire bar before using it. ONLY soak your method of washing (ex: wood scrub brush, sponge, or cloth)
- Don’t store it in a closed, wet container
- Do not store it with or around wet brushes, sponges or cloths
WHAT PEOPLE DO WRONG:
- Leaving the bar in standing water, causing it to become soft & dissolve faster
- Using too much soap when only a few swipes are needed (this happens most often leading people to give up dish soap bars & go back to plastic bottles)
- Applying the bar directly to every dish instead of loading the sponge or brush. Again, a good lather should wash around 4-5 dishes
- Storing it where it never has a chance to dry
- Assuming bars aren’t sanitary when in reality, proper drainage & drying keep them clean for everyday dishwashing.
