How To Store Shampoo Bars (Make Them Last Longer + Save Money)

Make your solid shampoo bars last longer, and get better value from every wash, with these simple 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, and we want to reduce the amount of plastic that flows into our homes.

Switching to a shampoo bar is one of the simplest changes you can make. It’s an easy and effective way to 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. This means you can save money over time.

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. Here are my top tips on how to make them last as long as possible, so you get more hair washes for your money:

How To Store Shampoo Bars

Whilst some shampoo bars have a transition period, many more don’t, meaning it’s never been easier to find a bar that works for your hair. Once you’ve found the best shampoo bar for you, it’s essential to store it properly to get the most for your money.

Good storage helps your bar last longer, perform better, and saves you money in the long run. 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 my pursuit of a zero-waste bathroom. In that time, I’ve found all the tips and tricks for storing shampoo bars (sometimes the hard way!) to get the most long-term use out of them:

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.

It might not seem like much, but every stray 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. And once a shampoo bar turns soggy, it tends to wear down much faster and gets used up more quickly than necessary.

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

One of the biggest mistakes people make is leaving their shampoo bar sitting in water. This means that, 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. No thank you!

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, and you’ll be fine!

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 cheap mesh soap saver bag, like this soap bag from Suma (available at Ethical Superstore), has been invaluable. It cost less than £2 and has stretched the lifespan of my shampoo bars even further.

It also creates a lovely lather and makes the bar easier to handle – especially once it gets thin and slippery. The bag also lets you 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

If you want to get super thrifty, then a good 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 corral those inevitable soap slivers.

Can You Leave A Shampoo Bar In The Shower?

Technically, yes, you can leave it in the shower, but only if it’s stored correctly.

If your bar is kept out of direct water flow and allowed to dry fully between uses, it will last well in most bathrooms. A suction soap dish that allows the water to drain and is positioned away from the shower head, is the ideal set-up.

If you can’t use this kind of set up, make sure you store the bar out of the shower. This is because if it’s left sitting in water or constantly damp, it will soften, shrink, and disappear much faster than it should.