Switching to Eco-Friendly Solid Soaps: 10 Options for All Tastes

Home / All posts / Personal care / Switching to Eco-Friendly Solid Soaps: 10 Options for All Tastes

I have to confess, for many years, I used liquid hand soap for its convenience without considering the environmental impact – just think about all the plastic bottles thrown away!

I understand why a hotel puts liquid hand wash in every room. It makes sense because they purchase it in large volumes and refill bottles, instead of providing each guest with a solid soap bar that would end up being discarded and polluting the planet. But for home use, I've decided to switch to solid, eco-friendly soap bars.

By the way, a bonus – if a soap bar is aromatic, it can serve a dual purpose. Not only does it function as a soap for cleaning, but its pleasant aroma can also act as a light air freshener.

But let's start from liquid eco-friendly hand wash. I found a couple of options in tablet form that can be dissolved and refilled. I haven’t tried they myself, though. But they look promising, as other products from these brands are great.

Eco-Friendly Foaming Hand Soaps

BLUELAND Hand Soap Duo - 2 Refillable Glass Dispensers + 8 Tablet Refills	Tirtyl Hand Soap Duo Kit - 2 Glass Dispensers + Storage Tin + 6 Tablet Refills	FOMIN Sustainable Soap Starter Kit - 6 Soap Tablets + 1 Glass Dispenser

All these brands provide packs of tablet refills, which is great. However, I still think that liquid foaming soap is overkill when a simple solid soap exists.

Solid Eco-Friendly Soap Bars

I selected several soap bars by their ingredients, environmental impact and packaging:

ATTITUDE Hand Wash Soap Bar, Plant and Mineral-Based	Auromere Ayurvedic Bar Soap, Himalayan Rose	Australian Botanical Soap, Goats Milk with Soya Bean Oil

The Yellow Bird Natural Bar Soap, Eucalyptus Spearmint	Grandma's Pure Lye Soap Bar,Unscented	Crate 61, Handmade Vegan Natural Bar Soap

Author's Note

After years of using liquid soap, switching back to solid soap felt a bit cumbersome, it took some experimenting to find the right setup. I ended up with the Crate 61 handmade vegan soap bar in lavender scent, which smells amazing. It's creamy, moisturizing, and very pleasant to use. It would be even better if it were made locally (it's currently produced in Canada). It’s important to always keep it dry.

If you've used liquid hand cleanser for years, you might find a solid soap bar inconvenient because it can become slippery and doesn’t like to stay wet. Good news - I found a way to solve this problem: either liquify it or use one of really nice soap holders. Read more about it in the post about solid shampoo.

A Bonus: Eco-Friendly Antibacterial Soap Sheets

A brilliant idea for traveling or hiking - antibacterial soap sheets. They can even be carried in a bag for everyday situations, like when there’s no soap in a café restroom or when you want to wash your particularly dirty hands on the street before eating.

FOMIN - Antibacterial Paper Soap Sheets for Hand Washing - (300 Sheets) ✅ Five scents including unscented ✅ Portable and compact ✅ Plastic-free ✅ Vegan ✅ Planet-friendly packaging

FAQ About Solid Soap

Does solid soap clean as well as liquid soap?

Yes, solid soap is just as effective as liquid soap at removing dirt, bacteria, and viruses when used with proper handwashing techniques. Remember that liquid soaps have only been on the market for about 40 years. Before that, everyone used solid soaps and managed just fine.

Does solid soap harbor bacteria?

While bacteria can exist on any surface, research (Heinze, J. E., & Yackovich, F. 1988) shows that solid soap does not transfer harmful bacteria during use. Rinsing it before and after use keeps it clean.

How can I prevent solid soap from becoming slimy?

Use a well-draining soap dish and keep the soap dry between uses. Avoid letting it sit in standing water.

Does solid soap last longer than liquid soap?

Yes, solid soap typically lasts longer when used properly because there’s less waste compared to liquid soap, which is often over-dispensed.

Is solid soap more cost-effective in the long run?

Absolutely! Solid soap is generally cheaper per use, especially when it’s stored correctly to prevent unnecessary wear.

#️⃣ Tags: Eco-friendly packaging, Green cleaning, Zero-waste solutions