How To Store Shampoo Bars To Make Them Last Longer

Make your solid shampoo bars last longer, and make your money go further, with these clever tips on how to store shampoo bars.

We all know the impacts that plastic pollution has. We’ve all seen heartbreaking images of seabirds eating plastic.

Reducing some types of plastic from our lives can be tricky. However, shampoo bars can be an easy, effective and sustainable alternative. You can save heaps of plastic, one hair wash at a time.

Whilst shampoo bars can cost more than bottles of shampoo, one single bar can replace anywhere between 3 and 5 single-use plastic bottles of shampoo. If you can afford the upfront cost, this can make your shower routine super sustainable.

However, if you feel like you are being short-changed by your shampoo bar, then it may be that it isn’t your bar at fault. It could be your shampoo bar storage that’s letting you down.

How To Store Shampoo Bars

Once you’ve found the best shampoo bar for you, it’s essential to store it properly to get the most for your money.

So how do you store that bubbly bar, to make it last as long as possible?

I’ve been using shampoo bars for a few years now. In that time I’ve found all the tips and tricks for storing shampoo bars to get the most long-term use out of them:

• keep your shampoo bar out of the direct flow of water
• allow it to dry out between uses
• don’t store your bar in direct sunlight
• invest in a mesh storage bag
• cut your shampoo bar into portions

Keep Your Shampoo Bar Out Of Direct Water Flow From Your Shower

Firstly, it’s important to store your shampoo bar out of direct contact with water. Especially near the direct flow of your shower.

This is because each drop of water on your bar washes a little bit of shampoo down the drain. Excess water can also cause your bar to go soggy.

A soggy bar means you’ll lose a lot of shampoo to your soap dish or drain. Plus you’ll use more shampoo in the next wash than you need to.

If you have a shower cubicle, then I’m a big fan of suction cup soap dishes. This allows you to place the dish wherever you want without having to drill any holes. It’s especially a good idea if you rent, or, like me, you don’t feel confident drilling into tiles.

Allow The Bar To Dry Out In Between Uses

Whatever your bathing setup, it’s essential to store your soap dish in an appropriate holder.

A soap dish is a great way to store a solid shampoo bar. However, not all soap dishes are created equally.

Soap dishes without drainage holes will dramatically shorten the life of your shampoo bar. This is because your shampoo bar will inevitably end up sitting in a pool of water. This turns your bar into a wet soggy mess quicker than the blink of an eye.

Instead, look for a soap dish that has drainage holes. Proper drainage prevents your shampoo bar from sitting in a watery pool. It also helps air circulate around the bottom of the bar. This flow of air helps to dry the bar out, making it last a whole lot longer.

If your existing soap dish doesn’t have drainage holes and you don’t want to buy a new soap dish, you can improvise. Wash some small pebbles and pop them into the dish. Voila! Instant drainage!

Keep Out Of Direct Sunlight

Solid shampoo, conditioner bars and soap bars aren’t a fan of direct sunlight. Strong sunlight can fade both their colour and fragrance – making them less pleasant to use.

And if you leave your shampoo bar standing in water and in direct sunlight, then there’s also the potential issue of mould or fungus.

This doesn’t mean you need to store your shampoo bar in the dark. Just avoid storing your shampoo bar on your window ledge on sunny days.

Invest In A Mesh Bag

As with any soap bar, eventually, your shampoo bar will get to a point where it’s too small and thin to use anymore.

To really get the most for your money, I’ve found investing in a mesh soap saver bag, like this one, has been invaluable. It has stretched the lifespan of my shampoo bars even further.

And using a bag means you can use every last sliver of your shampoo bar without it breaking into bits and washing down the drain. Super thrifty!

Cut Your Shampoo Bars Into Portions

Another thrifty trick is to cut your shampoo bar into portions. This prolongs the life of your shampoo bar for as long as possible, as it avoids having to wet the whole bar each time you bathe.

I find this technique is best used in conjunction with a mesh bag to coral those inevitable soap slivers.

The Bottom Line

Shampoo bars offer a great way to reduce single-use plastic use and keep your hair clean and healthy. However, they can be a little more expensive than conventional bottles of shampoo.

To get the most from a shampoo bar, remember to store it in a dry area away from direct sunlight, and don’t leave it standing in water. You can also try some thrifty hacks, like storing it in a mesh bag and/or cutting it up into portions to really maximise your shampoo bar’s lifespan.