Bar Soap vs Liquid Hand Soap: Which Is More Hygienic?

Many people worry that a shared bar of soap passes germs around. The research is reassuring.

Can bar soap spread germs?

In a study published in Epidemiology and Infection, researchers deliberately contaminated bars of soap with bacteria and then had volunteers wash with them. They found no detectable transfer of bacteria to the volunteers' hands. Their conclusion: washing with contaminated bar soap is unlikely to transfer bacteria.

Microbes can live on a wet bar, but the act of lathering and rinsing washes them away.

How the two compare

• Cleaning power: both work well when you wash properly.
• Shared spaces: liquid pumps may feel more comfortable in busy public restrooms.
• Cost: bars usually cost less per wash.
• Plastic: bars need less packaging; refills reduce waste for liquid soap.
• Mess: bars can get soggy without a draining dish.

What matters more than the format

The CDC's advice applies to both: wet, lather, scrub for at least 20 seconds, rinse and dry. See how to wash your hands properly.

Tips for a hygienic bar

• Use a draining dish so the bar dries between uses.
• Rinse the bar briefly before and after use.
• Replace mushy, cracked bars.

Which lasts longer?

In most homes a bar outlasts a bottle of the same price, because pumps dispense more soap than people need and bars contain no water. The catch is storage: a bar that sits in a puddle can lose a surprising amount to mush. A draining dish makes the biggest difference to how long a bar lasts.

Best choice by setting

• Home bathroom: either works. A bar on a draining dish is cheaper and lower-waste.
• Kitchen sink: liquid or foaming soap is handy when hands are greasy or covered in food.
• Office or shared bathroom: liquid in a pump avoids squeamishness about shared bars.
• Kids' bathroom: foaming soap is easy for small hands; bars teach thorough lathering.
• Guest bathroom: small individual bars or a pump both work.

Hand soap for dry or cracked hands

Frequent washing dries skin regardless of format. Choose a fragrance-free, gentle cleanser, rinse well, pat dry, and apply hand cream afterward. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends fragrance-free products for people with sensitive skin.

Cutting plastic with liquid soap

• Buy concentrated refills in large containers or pouches.
• Make foaming soap from liquid castile concentrate.
• Keep and reuse one good glass or metal pump bottle.
• Check for local refill shops that let you bring your own container.

Prefer liquid?

You can make a simple foaming hand soap by diluting liquid castile soap about 1 part to 3 parts water in a foaming pump. More in how to use castile soap.