I'm always so weirded out by the insane amounts of bar soap found in my parents' shower. My dad has his own bar, my mom, my siblings and then there's extra bars in there for God knows who. If you saw it I swear you'd think mental illness (OCD specifically) ran in the family. But my dad's reasoning behind all this nonsense is that bar soap isn't something that should be shared because it harbors bacteria. So why use bar soap in the first place? I stick strictly to liquid formulas and you want to know why? Because bars of soap are filthy things covered in germs!
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It doesn't take a genius to know that bars of soap tend to attract germs. For starters, they're wet and slimy, the perfect harbor for bacteria. I'm telling you, I've never been a fan. But as gross as they might seem, apparently they're a lot more harmless than I thought. Don't get me wrong, bacteria could totally live in the "slime" of bar soap. BUT all it takes is a few minor measures to keep you safe from harm. So before you decide to make the switch to liquid, here are five ways to keep your bar soap clean and your body healthy!
Rinse it out: Always rinse out the bar in running water before lathering it up to use. This helps to instantly wash away any germs. It's that simple, girl.
Store it in a dry place: I recommend keeping your bar soap on a soap dish, that way it can dry between uses. The wet and slimy environment is what makes it more susceptible to harboring bacteria.
Don't share: It's okay to share a soap bar with your spouse or family members because chances are you're sharing a lot of the same germs anyway. But if you have someone visiting your home or you're staying at someone else's place, make sure you have your own separate bar.
Don't use public bathroom bar soaps: I hardly ever find bar soaps in public restrooms, but if you, do don't panic. Just rinse the bar off well with running water and make sure to wash for a good amount of time so the germs rinse right off.
Don't retreat to antibacterial soap: I used to be the kind of person that would rather use antibacterial soap than public bathroom soap–not a good idea! Studies have found that the number one way to fight cold and flu viruses is to wash your hands with good ol' regular soap and water. So if you have to choose between the bar and the antibacterial gel, choose the bar!
Image via Corbis Images
