# What is the real world risk of sharing bar soap? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 11, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393 "2014-03-11T00:26:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/41 "2014-03-12T09:34:34Z")
I thought soap was a lathering agent. It’s the water that gets you clean, the soap merely facilitates, and as the soap is always sluiced with water it is therefore instantly cleaned at each use. Just my own ideas, I have no facts to hand to back them up. ---
**Author:** ![BleizDu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@BleizDu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BleizDu)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/42 "2014-03-12T09:52:56Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Who in the world rubs the bar of soap all over their body? You either rub it on the washcloth, and use the washcloth on your body, or get your hands soapy and use your hands to wash. The idea of rubbing a bar of soap all over yourself seems about as appealing as rubbing a smooth rock all over your body I love this board because I then discover all the variety of humans in topics I would never think about usually! For me, rubbing the soap on a washcloth sounds gross, never liked this in childhood, and, actually, making the soap foam on the hairy parts of my body is one of the fun moments of shower time. Some bars of soap are harder than others and don’t feel nice indeed, particularly if it’s a big block of soap I had to cut up in two or more pieces beforehand and there is jagged edges, but it takes a couple showers to even this out. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/43 "2014-03-12T12:58:03Z")
OK - While we are at it - Who else sticks the last bit of the old bar onto the new replacement? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/44 "2014-03-12T13:12:03Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Wait, y’all don’t wash your soap prior to use? I’m the only one who uses soap cleaner? But do you share the soap cleaner? Ew. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/45 "2014-03-12T14:34:21Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > But do you share the soap cleaner? Ew. The UV soap-cleaner disinfectant station takes care of that. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/46 "2014-03-12T16:15:13Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The UV soap-cleaner disinfectant station takes care of that. The _same_ one?:eek: ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/47 "2014-03-12T20:19:03Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Who in the world rubs the bar of soap all over their body? You either rub it on the washcloth, and use the washcloth on your body, or get your hands soapy and use your hands to wash. Me. I don’t get proper lather from a washcloth. My hands aren’t big enough to carry enough soap for a body with as much hair as I have on it. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/48 "2014-03-12T21:36:19Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Who in the world rubs the bar of soap all over their body? _\_ I do. And consider, when you are washing your face, what I rub the soap on _last_. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/49 "2014-03-12T21:48:12Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The UV soap-cleaner disinfectant station takes care of that. “Even the _dirt_… is clean!” ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/50 "2014-03-12T22:14:00Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > OK - While we are at it - Who else sticks the last bit of the old bar onto the new replacement? I do. But it usually won’t stay stuck together. So I’m starting to stick the leftover slivers in a dish. When there’s several of them, then you put a little (very little) water on it & let it sit a day or two. It will dissolve into a semi-liquid state – then you use that to refill a liquid hand soap dispenser. Why, yes, I am a tightwad. And proud of it. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/51 "2014-03-13T02:34:10Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > OK - While we are at it - Who else sticks the last bit of the old bar onto the new replacement? Me, me (raises both hands). I learned that trick here on this MB. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/52 "2014-03-13T20:27:23Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Who in the world rubs the bar of soap all over their body? _ **raises hand, with bar of soap in it** _ I realize that others have chimed in on this already, but this is absolutely how I do it. Of course, my username may possibly shed some light onto how effective this procedure is, at least in my case… ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/53 "2014-03-14T18:55:21Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > _\_ > > I do. And consider, when you are washing your face, what I rub the soap on _last_. I vividly remember this from _Friends_ and often think of it - like every time I’m in the shower 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/54 "2014-03-14T19:06:57Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > I realize I’m a bit more phobic about bacteria, viruses and fungus than many other people. But that’s what happens when you work as a dermatological medical assistant . . . Even professional massage therapists have to learn about this stuff. Most massage schools do a 100 hour beginner’s program, which covers this only very perfunctorily, or the 400 to 500 hour program that maybe goes into a bit more detail. (I’ve only done the 100 hour course myself.) Contrast that to the _really serious_ massage program that another student from another school described to me – there was a full semester course, with a full size five-color glossy textbook, just on skin diseases (okay, maybe other diseases too that a massage therapist might need to know about). He showed me his book. Lots and lots of really TMI pictures too! Ick! They did a three-year 1200-hour curriculum, or something on that order. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/55 "2014-03-14T19:16:40Z")
Also: I just noticed a post, a ways up-thread, suggesting that rubbing a bar of soap directly on your wet naked bod is about as appealing-sounding as rubbing a smooth rock on yourself. Actually, this is done. [Hot stone massage](http://spas.about.com/od/hotstonemassage/a/Hotstone.htm) is a real thing. People who get one generally say it’s really great. I’ve seen it demonstrated, but I’ve never done one nor gotten one. Some practitioners combine this with a lot of woo about different kinds of stone material (or crystals!) supposedly having all different kinds of properties, osmotically drawing varying toxins out of you through your skin. That’s probably all baloney. But there are different stones with differing textures, from very smooth to rough (think, pumice or lava). Woo aside, lots of people really like stone massage. ---
**Author:** ![Stana\_Claus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stana_claus/32/13874_2.png) [@Stana\_Claus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stana_Claus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/56 "2014-03-14T19:36:05Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > I do. But it usually won’t stay stuck together. So I’m starting to stick the leftover slivers in a dish. When there’s several of them, then you put a little (very little) water on it & let it sit a day or two. It will dissolve into a semi-liquid state – then you use that to refill a liquid hand soap dispenser. > > Why, yes, I am a tightwad. And proud of it. If you get the old, left-over remnant good and sudsy, then suds up the new bar too before sticking them together, I find that they stick together rather well. You might have to be careful to not torque them apart the first few times you use them, but they eventually form a pretty solid weld. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/57 "2014-03-14T19:43:31Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Doug K. View Post > Who in the world rubs the bar of soap all over their body? Me too. And my wife. I’ve seen her do it. 🙂 Although I haven’t observed anyone else’s shower habits first hand (or at least not in many years), it can’t be that uncommon. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/58 "2014-03-14T20:23:37Z")
“It’s soap… It’s self-cleaning!” -Chandler to Joey on _Friends._ ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/59 "2014-03-14T21:00:26Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I thought soap was a lathering agent. It’s the water that gets you clean, the soap merely facilitates, and as the soap is always sluiced with water it is therefore instantly cleaned at each use. > > Just my own ideas, I have no facts to hand to back them up. And to add upon, in my own conceptions about soap, I was under the assumption the heavy alkali-based solution it creates with water basically strips the shells off most bacteria or viruses you’ll realistically need to worry about in mere seconds. I can’t imagine wet soap being a very hospitable environment for anything that isn’t lye-resistant. In that sense, why not (heh) supply anti-bacterial bar soap as a double-measure? ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393/60 "2014-03-14T21:35:23Z")
> [@Myglaren](#): > > I vividly remember this from _Friends_ and often think of it - like every time I’m in the shower 🙂 I do, too, which is why I don’t share soap with my husband. I don’t care if its possible or impossible for germs or fungus or bacteria or whatever to grow on soap, I just keep remembering this episode. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-world-risk-of-sharing-bar-soap/683393.md?page=4)