Getting A Little Dishy

At the risk of selling less soap, let’s talk about where your soap should live when you don’t need it and how you can save money by making your soap last longer.

I’ve mentioned before on this site, that cold process soap is a wonderfully hard bar because it cures for six weeks. During those six weeks, the excess liquid evaporates. If you are using your soap with water to wash up (if you are doing otherwise - odd, but this probably still applies), you will start to add liquid back into your bar. Worry not, this was what it was made for. You have two options of what to do with it next.

The first is to put it on a shower ledge and leave it until next time. There is nothing wrong with this, but it will mean that the bottom of your soap will have a hard surface to trap the water next to the soap. This will soften the bar of soap a bit and mean that it won’t last as long.

There is a second option. Long ago humans invented the soap dish. You may immediately think of a little flat tub, but humans have also made gigantic technological strides, such as bumps, ridges, curves, and holes to improve on a flat dish. The purpose of these are to allow for the flow of air underneath the bar of soap, this allows the bottom to dry making it last longer.

Perfection, right?

Silicone and plastic are cheap and popular options, but if you care enough to buy handcrafted small batch soap made from real ingredients, you may want better. There are a couple of options that I would strongly suggest and a few I would not.

Wood and cement soap dishes are absolutely adorable, however the base materials are not naturally water resistant. This means that they absorb water which can lead to mold. The liquid they retain can also be passed onto the soap which will not help with the end goal of drying out the soap. 

There are options for sealant coatings on those wood and cement. Sealants can vary in efficiency and durability, so this can be a daring proposition. There is no certainty that the sealant will have continued use or even that it is any good for you. This is most definitely for the gambler or deep researcher.

I have been doing a lot of nay-saying so you’re probably wanting me to get to the point.

Ceramic and metal are the best choices.

I do not know what your bathroom decor is, so this one is totally up to you.

Ceramics come in a wide variety of options and colors and styles. They have nubs, ridges, holes, curves or, as you will see in the cover image, there are also drainage spouts. Ceramics are water- and mold-proof. Their creation does not harm the environment and they biodegrade when you are done with them. A bonus is that there are so many wonderful creative people who hand make unique beautiful pieces. These dishes can enhance your bathroom aesthetic.

Metal is also a great option. There are less expensive metal racks and lovely molded dishes with vents, holes, or ridges. It is a solid option for those who, like me, are a little bit klutzy. I am on my second ceramic soap dish because the first one broke when it smashed on the floor. Unless you are extremely strong or there is some freak accident, you probably won’t destroy a metal soap dish. 

I’m sticking with ceramics and tempting fate because I love how they look with my shower curtain, but metal is a solid choice.

All of this is not to shame your soap storage. This is simply to offer awareness of how your soap will rest as you go on with the rest of your fabulous and maybe sometimes stressful day.