Prolonging the Magic: How to Make Your Natural Soap Last Longer
If you’ve recently made the switch to handmade soap, you might notice something: your bar doesn’t last quite as long as the detergent-heavy bricks from the grocery store. That’s no accident.
Most commercial soaps are loaded with synthetic chemicals like Sodium Laurel Sulphate, Tetrasodium EDTA, and other lab-born hardeners designed to extend shelf life—not to treat your skin right. At Brick Box Natural Soap Company, we skip all that. Our briccs are made with skin-loving ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, sunflower oil, and beef tallow. No fillers, no hardeners—just natural, effective soap.
That natural formula comes with a trade-off: it can wear down faster if you’re not storing it right. But with a few simple habits, you can stretch your bricc further without sacrificing performance. Here’s how to make your natural soap last longer—and get more from every bar.
1. Keep It Out of the Water
The number one soap killer? Constant water exposure. Leaving your soap in the direct stream of the shower or sitting in a puddle breaks it down fast. Instead, stash it somewhere dry between uses—on a shelf, ledge, or dry corner that stays clear of splash zones.
2. Let It Dry Between Uses
The more time your bricc spends dry, the longer it lasts. Moisture makes soap soft and crumbly, while air exposure helps it harden and hold its shape. If multiple people are using the same bar, it may stay wetter for longer and wear out quicker. Give it room to breathe.
3. Use a Proper Soap Dish
Airflow matters. A bamboo tray, wire rack, or angled soap dish can help water drain off and let your soap dry out completely. Avoid solid-bottom dishes that trap moisture.
Need one? Check out the Elevation Block—our custom soap saver designed to keep your bricc high, dry, and adventure-ready.
4. Wash with a Cloth, Not Just Your Hands
Skin doesn’t lather up as well as a good washcloth or scrubber. Using a cloth builds more suds with less soap and spreads that lather further—so you get cleaner, faster, and your bricc lasts longer.
Our Sisal Scrubbing Cloths are made from natural plant fiber, tough enough to tackle grit and grime, and gentle enough for daily use. They rinse clean, hang dry, and hold up shower after shower—whether you're rinsing off trail dust or a long day on the job.
Looking for something smaller? The Soap Saver Satchel is perfect for holding the last bits of your bar—and turning every sliver into a full-lather clean. Just drop your soap inside and scrub away. It’s a minimalist’s best friend and a great way to get every ounce of use from your bricc.
Get our Natural Sisal Washcloth or Grab a Soap Saver Satchel
5. Take Cooler Showers
We’re not saying you need to go full polar plunge, but hot water will wear your soap down faster. It softens the bar and forces you to use more product to get a good lather. Cooler water helps your bricc hold its shape and stick around longer.
6. Cut Your Bricc Into Smaller Pieces
Breaking your soap into halves or thirds is a smart move. You only bring one small piece into the shower at a time, keeping the rest dry until you’re ready. It’s an easy way to stretch a single bar and keep it from melting too fast.
7. Use a Water Softener If You Have Hard Water
Hard water doesn’t just make lather tougher to build—it also wears your soap down faster. If your water has high mineral content, investing in a water softener can extend the life of your soap and improve your overall shower experience.
Take care of your bricc, and it’ll take care of you. With the right habits and the right gear, your bar soap can last longer, work better, and stay ready for whatever your day throws at you.