Clean Hands and Clean Waterways: Bar Soap vs. Liquid Soap

Greening Up My Act

Washing your hands is probably second nature since the onset of the Plague 2.0, but the big question is: Which soap to use? And if you're interested in living as sustainably as possible, which soap has the least impact on the environment? Join marketing writers Tiff and Kat in this week's deep dive into potential greenwashing behind bar soap vs. liquid soap to learn which type of soap reigns supreme for washing germs down the drain without taking the Earth down the drain with it.

What we used

• Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap - https://amzn.to/3QJbEia

Sources

• FDA: FAQs on Soap - https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/frequently-asked-questions-soap
• The Good Boutique: The Environmental Impact of Liquid Soap - https://www.thegoodboutique.com/inspiration/the-environmental-impact-of-liquid-soap-why-bar-soap-is-a-better-choice
• Cleveland Clinic: Triclosan - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24280-triclosan
• WFLA: Soap Showdown: Bar soap vs liquid soap for your daily cleanse - https://www.wfla.com/bloom-tampa-bay/soap-showdown-bar-soap-vs-liquid-for-your-daily-cleanse
• FDA: Antibacterial Soap? You Can Skip It, Use Plain Soap and Water - https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/antibacterial-soap-you-can-skip-it-use-plain-soap-and-water
• Minnesota Environmental Health Division of the Minnesota Dept of Health, Tricolosan and Drinking Water - https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/risk/docs/guidance/dwec/triclosaninfo.pdf
• NIH - Environmental impact of increased soap consumption during COVID-19 pandemic: biodegradable soap production and sustainable packaging - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8272010/
• The Healthy - Is Liquid Soap Better than Bar Soap? - https://www.thehealthy.com/skin-health/bar-soap-vs-liquid-soap/
• Huffpost Chemical Marketplace: Bar Soap vs Liquid Soap - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chemical-marketplace-bar_b_2104678
• What’s Your Impact? Liquid vs Bar soap, which is more environmentally friendly - https://whatsyourimpact.org/the-eco-guide/liquid-vs-bar-soap-which-more-environmentally-friendly
• Slate - Is Dove Soap Actually Soap? - https://slate.com/technology/2020/04/what-is-soap-coronavirus.html
• Lovely Greens - 7 Ways to Make Soap - https://lovelygreens.com/5-ways-to-make-handmade-soap/

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Chapters

1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. Sources (00:08:40)

3. What is soap? (00:10:21)

4. Bar soap vs. liquid soap (00:17:14)

5. Is bar soap effective? (00:18:26)

6. Is bar soap cost-effective? (00:19:45)

7. Is bar soap better for the environment? (00:21:03)

8. TLDR/Granola Rating (00:28:02)

9. Alternatives to commercial soap (00:32:46)

10. Next week: Reusable Cotton Swabs & Pads (00:40:54)

11. Listener mail (00:42:40)