Getting yourself clean is an everyday task, with at least one shower a day anywhere up to ten handwashes (maybe more!), which is why choosing the right kind of soap is an important thing to think about. Between cost, convenience, efficacy, and of course the nice bits like scent and how it feels on your skin, it’s surprisingly complex when you really sit down and weigh your options up. Not sure where to start? As big fans of all things cleaning (both bodies and homes!) we’ve got you covered. 

What’s The Difference Between Bar Soap and Liquid Soap?

While you use them in a similar way, there are a few key differences. One of the most obvious things is the formulation. Bar soap, aka solid little blocks, are the most traditional forms of soap. You suds them up in your hands to make a lather, then get yourself clean. Liquid soap operates in the same way, but instead usually comes in a pump-activated bottle for easy dispensing. 

The next key difference is what they’re actually made of. Both can have a myriad of different ingredients, with bar soap often containing a fat to give it structure - like plant butters or oils, along with foaming ingredients and fragrance. Liquid soap uses water as its base rather than a fatty substance like an oil, along with the foaming agent that actually helps to get you clean, along with a few other ingredients that help you smell good after you’re all dried off. 

Which Cleans Better: Bar Soap or Liquid Soap?

Using any form of soap is going to help you get nice and squeaky clean, but given the formulation is different between bar soap vs liquid soap, sometimes one might be better for you than the other. While the key thing to remember is you need to get all sudsy for 20 seconds before thoroughly washing and drying, some forms of soap can be more stripping than others. 

Bar soap is very concentrated, given the miniscule amount of water used in its formulation. While this can be good for a deep clean, if your skin’s on the dryer side, or you’re prone to sensitivity, it can be a little too harsh. Despite the fats in bar soap, it can leave your skin feeling stripped, meaning that, while you’re clean, your skin’s barrier is a little worse for wear. 

With liquid or foaming soaps, like our foaming hand wash and body wash, they’re designed to be effective at getting you clean, all without taking away all your skin’s oils and moisture barrier. They don’t have the oils or the intensity of bar soap, but still have the foaming action you know and love (which is the bit that helps get you clean). 

It’s also important to look at the ingredients when it comes to effectiveness. While you might be inclined to reach for an antibacterial soap every time you jump in the shower or wash up before a meal, it’s not actually necessary. A good bit of lather will still remove any germs, without damaging your skin’s barrier the way that antibacterial soap can. 

Environmental Impact: Bar Soap vs Liquid Soap

While the impact of soap might not be something you think about all too much, there is a difference between bar soap and liquid soap environmentally. Bar soap doesn’t need preservatives, owing to the fact it doesn’t have water (which is the bit that can go moldy). However, the contents of your soap are key here when we’re weighing up the sustainability factor. Commonly used ingredients in bar soap include palm oil, which is often attributed to deforestation that reduces the natural habitat of a lot of animals - though orangutans are number one on the list of impacted species. 

Liquid soap does have water in it, which means it also needs to be preserved. Unlike bar soap, liquid soaps also need more packaging and typically come in single-use pumps or squeezy bottles, resulting in more household waste. They’re also heavier to transport, which contributes to the amount of energy it takes to get them from a factory to your home. 

Both liquid and bar soap can also contain ingredients that are harmful to the water table once they’ve gurgled their way down your sink or shower drain. Things like antibacterial ingredients, including triclosan, can impact marine life including plants and fish. 

With all of that in mind, our foaming hand and body soaps give you the best of both worlds without the drawbacks. They’re gentle enough to use every time you’re getting fresh and clean, don’t contain damaging preservatives or antibacterial agents, but also come in pump bottles that were made to be refilled for life. They also don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients (or ingredients that adversely impact animals out and about in their natural habitat!). 

Cost and Convenience

Cost and convenience are probably the two main things you think about when it comes to your soap options. Cost-wise, bar soap can vary significantly, depending on whether you get the cheapest option, or select something a little more fancy. Liquid soap can be the same, with a range of options available on the market these days. 

Generally, assuming you’re keeping your bar soap dry when it’s not in use, it can last a little longer than a bottle of shower gel. However, when it comes to convenience and quick dispensing, a liquid soap is always going to win out here. 

We know everyday Australians want a balance of convenience, efficacy, and affordability, which is why we created our just-add-water handwash and body wash tablets to use with foaming dispensers. Our body wash bottles hold a whopping 500ml of foaming soap that will cover your whole body with six to eight pumps. It’s quick to make, easy to use, and comes packed with skin-loving ingredients like aloe and vitamin E. It’s also an affordable option, with each refill tablet coming in at just $4.67 and lasting the average family anywhere up to a month. As a bonus, when you do a refill-only order, we’ll also post it out to you free of charge. 

Which Soap Should You Choose?

While the right choice for you ultimately comes down to personal preference, there are a few things we recommend looking for. Choose a soap without ingredients that will irritate your skin or impact the environment for starters. Find something that’s easy and convenient to use, and of course, pick something with a scent you love to add a little decadence to your everyday routines. 

If you’re ready to try something new and want to make the switch to a foaming liquid soap, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to Skipper. We’ve made it easy to get started, giving you an abundance of starter kits (along with plenty of nifty bits for keeping your home clean too!). Discover something new to love, get foamy and clean, and do your bit for the environment at the same time.