If you're used to liquid dish soap, switching to a solid dish soap can take a little getting used to. How much do you use? How do you get a good lather? And how do you keep the bar from disappearing too quickly?
The good news is that using solid dish soap is remarkably simple.
Our Lemongrass Eucalyptus Solid Dish Soap is handmade in small batches and highly concentrated. Designed to cut through grease and baked-on food, one bar can replace approximately three to four bottles of liquid dish soap, making it a simple way to reduce plastic at the kitchen sink.
Here's how to use solid dish soap effectively — and how to make your bar last.
How Do You Use Solid Dish Soap?
Rather than filling the sink with soapy water, solid dish soap is applied directly to your dish brush or cloth.
1. Scrape your dishes.
Remove leftover food before washing, particularly from pots and pans.
2. Wet your brush or cloth.
Moisten a bamboo pot scrubber, dish brush or Swedish dishcloth with warm water.
3. Lather the solid dish soap.
Rub your damp brush or cloth directly over the bar in a circular motion. A few passes should create a rich, creamy lather.
4. Wash your dishes.
Start with glassware and lightly soiled dishes before moving on to cutlery, pots and pans. Add more soap to your brush as needed.
5. Rinse thoroughly.
Rinse each piece with clean water and allow the soap bar to dry between uses.
Does Solid Dish Soap Lather?
Yes, although you may notice fewer bubbles than you would with some liquid dish soaps.
That's completely normal. Solid dish soap creates a concentrated, creamy lather on your brush or cloth rather than filling the sink with bubbles. Lots of bubbles aren't necessary to get dishes clean.
How Do You Make Solid Dish Soap Last Longer?
The most important thing you can do is let the bar dry completely between uses.
Keep your solid dish soap on a well-draining soap dish that allows water to escape and air to circulate around the bar. Avoid leaving it sitting in the sink or in a dish that collects water.
The longer handmade soap remains wet, the more quickly it will soften and wear away.
Can Solid Dish Soap Leave a Film on Dishes?
If you have hard water, you may occasionally notice spots or a slight film on glassware or dishes.
Traditional soap can interact with minerals naturally present in hard water, which can leave some residue behind. Rinsing dishes thoroughly can help. If needed, a diluted vinegar rinse can also help remove mineral or soap residue from glassware and dishes.
How Should You Store Solid Dish Soap?
For everyday use, keep your bar beside the sink on a well-draining soap dish and allow it to dry between washes.
Solid dish soap is also particularly convenient for camping, cabins, RVs and travel because it is compact and there's no bottle to leak. Let the bar dry before storing it in a travel soap dish.
Does Solid Dish Soap Expire?
Handmade solid dish soap doesn't have quite the same type of expiry date as many conventional household products.
For the best experience, we recommend using your soap within one to three years, while the essential oils are still fresh and aromatic. Store unused bars somewhere cool and dry, away from direct sunlight.
As handmade soap ages, its scent will naturally become softer. This doesn't necessarily mean the soap is no longer usable.
A Simple Alternative to Liquid Dish Soap
Switching from liquid to solid dish soap is a small change, but one with some worthwhile advantages.
A concentrated bar takes up very little space beside the sink, eliminates the need for another plastic bottle and can last surprisingly well when cared for properly.
Once you get used to reaching for a bar instead of a bottle, it quickly becomes part of the everyday rhythm of the kitchen.
