# Soap in the commode **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 20, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430 "2012-04-20T17:56:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![geno57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac8455/32.png) [@geno57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geno57)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/1 "2012-04-20T17:56:57Z")
I know. “Nobody uses bar soap anymore.” But I still do, and every once in a while, my bar of soap becomes too small to use in the shower. So I’ll usually dump the remains into the toilet. Now … this has been pretty consistent over many years … That tiny sliver of soap renders itself very difficult to wash down the bowl, which usually flushes everything just fine. Even if I start the flush, and _then_ drop the soap in, it’s as though the soap somehow strangles the flushing action. What would cause this phenomenomenomenomenen, O Teeming Millions? ---
**Author:** ![Blkshp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blkshp/32/7135_2.png) [@Blkshp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blkshp)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/2 "2012-04-20T18:02:23Z")
It’s slippery? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/3 "2012-04-20T18:03:57Z")
It’s not shaped like a turd? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/4 "2012-04-20T18:42:12Z")
Dunno, but you can slap the old sliver onto the new bar, press hard, and let it meld. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/5 "2012-04-20T18:51:24Z")
it is stiff and long. swirling currents disrupt its travel. it’s like a surf board underwater in breaking waves, lots of tumble and little travel. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/6 "2012-04-20T19:20:17Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Dunno, but you can slap the old sliver onto the new bar, press hard, and let it meld. Ditto. PS: it helps to get the new bar wet and soapy first. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/7 "2012-04-20T19:51:15Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Dunno, but you can slap the old sliver onto the new bar, press hard, and let it meld. I have said in other threads about soap that I meld my bars, mainly because I like a large bar of soap when I am showering - and would get rid of the old bar long before most people would consider it to “done.” Once it is even a little small, I get out a new bar and just meld the two. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/8 "2012-04-20T19:58:36Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > it is stiff and long :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/9 "2012-04-20T20:08:48Z")
Duhn duhn DUHN, duhn duhn da DUUUHN, duhn duhn DUHN, Dah Dah! _Soooooap In the Commode a-swirlin’ in the bowl…_ ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/10 "2012-04-20T21:42:30Z")
> [@geno57](#): > > I know. “Nobody uses bar soap anymore.” Wait, what? I thought bar soap was what most people used? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/11 "2012-04-21T00:38:58Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Wait, what? I thought bar soap was what most people used? 😕 It’s all about body wash and [del]poufies[/del]loofahs\* now. I call them poufies, so sue me! ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/12 "2012-04-21T01:08:13Z")
I dunno why, but put it in the trash next time. Flushing solid stuff is never a good idea, it just means it has to get filtered out and dealt with downstream. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/13 "2012-04-21T02:35:52Z")
earlier flushing discussing > **[Why Are My Toilets Constantly Getting Clogged?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=552709)** > > This didn’t used to happen when we first built the house (about 10-15 years ago). But now it’s several times a week. My wife thinks the toilets are junk, but as above, it’s a more recent phenomenon. So I’m wondering if there’s some amount of clog... ---
**Author:** ![MaltLiquor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@MaltLiquor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaltLiquor)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/14 "2012-04-21T02:39:33Z")
I let the slivers sit for a day while I am at work and then give the bowl a quick brushing when I get home. Dosen’t disinfect but why not get an extra clean in there once in a while. Also if you let it sit for a few hours it is not solid anymore, I have fished it out and checked. Disgusting I know. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/15 "2012-04-21T06:12:59Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Wait, what? I thought bar soap was what most people used? 😕 I used bar soap for 45 years and my wife has coveted me to body wash and a (I can’t believe I admitting this in a public forum) pouf. Damn thing actually works great, I highly recommend you give one try, just don’t tell anyone. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/16 "2012-04-21T07:05:02Z")
I think it’s because it’s too flat. There’s a layer of water at the bottom that doesn’t move much when you flush, if it’s within that layer, it won’t be flushed away. (all conjecture) ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-in-the-commode/619430/17 "2012-04-21T08:21:25Z")
> [@geno57](#): > > I know. “Nobody uses bar soap anymore.” But I still do, and every once in a while, my bar of soap becomes too small to use in the shower. So I’ll usually dump the remains into the toilet. I don’t have anything to say about your actual question, but this seems to be a pretty bad idea to me. If your water is at all hard (as most people’s is), soap lying around and dissolving in the water is going to create soap scum, which is liable to stick to the bowl, trap dirt and germs, and make the toilet more difficult to clean. Soap is not a magical, universal cleaner. It is good for loosening grease from things, including from skin, but that is not really the main issue in a toilet. If you can’t use the soap, just throw it in the bin.