I finished pooping and realised my liquid hand soap had run out, so I used a body soap bar to wash them. I had to go outside and use the hand soap in another bathroom to make sure my hands were clean.

Can you use body soap to wash hands properly?

  • Ephera@lemmy.ml
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    11 months ago

    I mean, that simplifies it a bit much.

    For example, bar soap uses a different soap chemical than liquid soap (typically sodium stearate vs. typically sodium laureth sulfate). It’s a lot better at removing oils/grease, therefore better at cleaning but will also leave your skin dry.

    And then there’s shampoos, which will have additives for your hair. For example, various shampoos for longer hair are prepared in such a way that when they get mixed with water, silicone will fall out of the shampoo and stick to your hair, giving it a shine and making it stick together less.

    Well, and for completeness’ sake, there’s also cleaning detergents which technically contain soap, but you really don’t want near your skin.

    But yeah, having said all that, any soap intended for use on your body, should be safe for skin and hair. If you intend to switch long-term, then you should watch out for dry skin or less healthy/beautiful hair.

    • Spaz@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Tbf shampoo is labeled shampoo and not soap or hair soap. So it still stands correct. If it’s called soap on the package then you should be fine with it on the external body. If it says detergent, obv that is t soap. Containing soap not same as being soap.

    • The Liver@lemm.eeOP
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      10 months ago

      It’s not about safety that I was asking, rather effectiveness. Most people seem to have not understood, though. shrug

      • Ephera@lemmy.ml
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        10 months ago

        Ah, yeah. I did kind of answer it indirectly: Since your body soap is a bar soap, it should actually be more effective than the liquid soap.

        Having said that, you can also just let the soap soak for a little longer, or if in doubt, use more soap / apply soap a second time.

        But you also typically won’t have highly infectious bacteria/viruses on your skin after pooping, so I don’t think it matters that much. Soap is more important, after you’ve been out in public…