# Dealing With Those Annoying Slivers of Soap **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 13, 2020, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855 "2020-10-13T08:02:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/1 "2020-10-13T08:02:45Z")
I brought this up once before. But it has been so long, I don’t even remember when–or where. Anyways, we all have to deal with those annoying slivers of soap, when we’re done showering. Admittedly some of the solutions offered are quite unique. One magazine I read some time back, said boil them all, and form it into a new bar of soap. Yeah, right. Anyhow, when I was still quite young, my mother figured out what to do. Simply press the sliver into the top of the new bar of soap. Once wet, it sticks easily into place. Then you waste nothing. Frankly, nowadays I just use the sliver until it disappears. Why not? Or when it gets the size of a U.S. penny, I just toss it. Again, why the heck not? BTW, I am still curious about that recipe for a new, superbar of soap. I have no need to make it. But it still sounds creative. Anyone have a link? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/2 "2020-10-13T08:31:27Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > Anyone have a link? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xYlLLbIGl3c/hqdefault.jpg "DIY Soap bar using Old Bar Soap | Sunny DIY") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYlLLbIGl3c) Be sure to come back and tell us about it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/3 "2020-10-13T11:17:40Z")
I feel like Mr Moneybags when I do it, but I throw out the last little piece of my soap. It’s soap. I buy 15 or 20 Irish Spring bars of soap at a time from Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/4 "2020-10-13T11:44:26Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > Anyhow, when I was still quite young, my mother figured out what to do. Simply press the sliver into the top of the new bar of soap. Once wet, it sticks easily into place. Then you waste nothing. That’s what we always did when I was a kid (parents were survivors of the Depression). Now I just toss it. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/5 "2020-10-13T11:50:36Z")
I stopped using soap bars a long time ago. Liquid soap in a dispenser is much better, IMO. And I don’t need soap in the shower: the shampoo that runs down my body while rinsing my hair cleans perfectly. Shampoo for me is just liquid soap with a different perfume. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/6 "2020-10-13T11:50:43Z")
People actually still use bar soap?! The solution is one of any number of outstanding bathing soaps that not only clean the skin but pamper it as well. The one outstanding characteristic of bar soap that I remember from my childhood is how, once wet and slippery, it would often squirt out of my little hand and careen around the shower stall. Every once in a while, if I was really lucky, I would accidentally step on it while searching for it. LOL ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/7 "2020-10-13T11:51:31Z")
At some point it gets so small that it falls down into the drain. Usually, I’m still using it because every morning I see the sliver and say “shit, I forgot to buy soap again.” ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/8 "2020-10-13T13:57:10Z")
Usually I use the sliver until it’s to the point where I have to spend so long soaping up the rag that it’s annoying me. At which point I stick it onto the next bar, but sometimes if it doesn’t want to stick (sometimes different brands do this), I’ll just toss it. I’ve considered devising some kind of press whereby I could collect all the slivers and compress them into a cohesive bar of soap, but so far soap’s cheap enough that it hasn’t been worth the effort. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/9 "2020-10-13T14:17:11Z")
I feel like Mr Moneybags when I do it, but I throw out the last little piece of my soap. It’s soap. I buy 15 or 20 Irish Spring bars of soap at a time from Amazon. Mrs Moneybags here! I hate slivers of soap. The others on this thread would be horrified to see how big the “slivers” are that I throw away. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/10 "2020-10-13T14:24:03Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > Mrs Moneybags here! I hate slivers of soap. The others on this thread would be horrified to see how big the “slivers” are that I throw away. If I ever won the MegaBillions Lottery, I’d hire a personal assistant. One of his jobs would be to monitor the soap and replace it when the lettering wore smooth. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/11 "2020-10-13T14:27:04Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > If I ever won the MegaBillions Lottery, I’d hire a personal assistant. One of his jobs would be to monitor the soap and replace it when the lettering wore smooth. That’s the problem with you idle rich; you’re wasteful. I’d have my servants re-emboss it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/12 "2020-10-13T14:29:49Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > That’s the problem with you idle rich; you’re wasteful. I’d have my servants re-emboss it See, I care about the community, so I’d give it away to those in need along with a note apologizing for any stray pubic hairs. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/13 "2020-10-13T14:30:15Z")
I remember dorm life in college, where you had to have a little shower caddy with all your stuff. This was Pre-Loofa Times, so no liquid soap. You had to put your bar of soap in a little plastic container. Like this, but much less fancy: > **[Amazon.com : PORTINEER Carry-Dri MAX Bar Soap Holder Box Container -  Case...](https://www.amazon.com/Carry-Dri-Travel-Soap-Case-PORTINEER/dp/B07QYRRZX6)** > > Amazon.com : PORTINEER Carry-Dri MAX Bar Soap Holder Box Container -  Case Vents Dries Bar And Doesn't Leak - Travel Dish For Home School Gym Travel Hiking - Patented Container Design - Blue : Beauty & Personal Care ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/14 "2020-10-13T15:32:48Z")
A quick check under the bathroom sink reveals enough bar soap from hotels to last the next few years or so. I’ll use a bar until it gets so thin it snaps, then replace it. If I forget, there are always a couple of tubes of body wash in the rack in the shower. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/15 "2020-10-13T16:38:15Z")
The mistake is using the first bar down to a sliver. Once it’s about 2/3rds as long or wide and only about 1/4th as thick as a new bar _that’s_ the time to combine them. Get out a new bar, get both bars good and wet with hot water, then smoosh them together between your palms. Set the combined bar on a soap dish with the small one on the bottom and by the time you next use it a few hours later, they’ll be welded together for good. Lather rinse repeat when that bar gets thin. If you use a bar to the point it’s getting flexible and in danger of breaking in half, you waited a couple showers too long. If it does break in half you waited about a week too long. You can still weld the smaller pieces together onto a new bar, but do it sooner next time. Easy peasy & zero waste. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/16 "2020-10-13T16:39:08Z")
A real billionaire would collect them and have his minions spin and knit them into warm winter scarves for those in need… ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/17 "2020-10-13T20:00:21Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I feel like Mr Moneybags when I do it, but I throw out the last little piece of my soap. It’s soap. Same here. I just tossed a sliver a few days ago. However, when it comes to the last of the toothpaste in the tube, I confess to taking heroic lifesaving measures. There’s always a ~little~ left in there. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/18 "2020-10-13T20:09:31Z")
I toss it when it starts to get flexible. But I also alternate between bar soap and the liquid/body wash. One week or so of bar soap, the next week or so body wash. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/19 "2020-10-13T21:19:00Z")
I use (inexpensive) shampoo for soap. Bar soap is a nuisance. I also use watered-down shampoo in a liquid foamy soap dispenser at the sink. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855/20 "2020-10-13T21:33:09Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I feel like Mr Moneybags when I do it, but I throw out the last little piece of my soap. It’s soap. I buy 15 or 20 Irish Spring bars of soap at a time from Amazon. Years ago I took advantage of a sale and coupons to stock up on Irish Spring at CVS. Last week I noticed that I was down to only three bars left, and I thought to myself “I guess it’s time to start watching for another sale at CVS”. Maybe I should check Amazon instead. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-those-annoying-slivers-of-soap/922855.md?page=2)