Today, worldwide demand for solid soap is falling. The process cannot be called rapid - this is a decrease in sales of 2.7% per year. But at the same time, the market is growing, just buyers are increasingly choosing soap in a bottle.
So which soap is better - liquid or solid? The assortment today is huge in stores - you can choose any product with different declared properties and smell.
Types of soap
Before comparing which soap is better - liquid or solid, you should understand its classification. All such care products are divided primarily into liquid and solid.
According to the intended purpose:
- household - washing, only solid;
- Toiletries - for body care;
- special - medical, for example, ichthyol, or sulfur-tar, or for production purposes.
The color distinguishes between ordinary soap and clarified.
For consumer purposes:
- neutral - letter H, does not contain soda products;
- extra - letter E, not more than 0.2% soda products, high content of fatty acids (not less than 78%) ;.
- baby - letter D, without dyes and preservatives;
- ordinary - letter O.
Various products with special properties are also available:
- glycerin;
- tarry;
- herbal;
- cream soap;
- soap scrub.
An even wider assortment is made by hand: Castilian, silk, Marseille, coffee, salt, honey, fruit, flower - the list goes on and on.
What is the difference between liquid and solid soap? They differ in composition. A solid product is sodium salts obtained under the influence of sodium alkali on fats of plant and animal origin. Liquid soap is also made from fats, but saponified with potassium alkali. In any chemistry textbook, in the corresponding section, it is written that potassium salts have a stronger cleaning effect, since this substance dissociates more due to the large radius of the potassium atom.
So the answer to the question: “Which soap is better - liquid or solid?” - seems to be understandable. But this is only at first glance. Liquid soap is made today not only on the basis of potassium salts; almost the entire assortment is on sale by liquids based on synthetic surface-active substances (surfactants). And this is a completely different product.
Liquid natural soap at the moment is an expensive product, almost always handmade, almost exclusive. A liquid surfactant product is the same shower gel, only glycerin is added to it.
From an environmental point of view
As soon as liquid soap appeared, it was immediately declared more environmentally friendly, as it foams faster and water consumption decreases. But after the first wave of universal glee passed, the experts studied the issue in more detail and came to the following conclusions:
- Liquid soap is spent 7 times more than solid, with each hand wash. And this is the whole planet’s tons of chemical raw materials and giant production, which have a negative impact on the environment.
- Packaging. The solid product is sealed in paper or plastic. The paper label decomposes well, the plastic one is much worse. But this can not be compared with plastic bottles - they are larger and multicomponent, which complicates their processing. In addition, liquid soap has higher consumption, which further exacerbates the situation.
- Scientists have already found that the carbon footprint of liquid soap is 25% higher than that of solid soap. So a liquid product already harms the planet more.
So if you ask about which soap is better - liquid or solid, from the point of view of the environmental aspect, then the answer will be unequivocal: love the planet - choose solid! Or at least use a reusable dispenser.
Usability
Solid soap tends to soak in a soap dish, turn into “snot”, and when it is dried again, crack and fall to pieces. So liquid soap is an ode to comfort! It is convenient, does not stain anything, and you can use it to the last drop. Then the lump will have to be partially thrown away, and the remnant will go into the bin.
In addition, in public places it is definitely worth using a liquid product. And not because microbes will be on the solid bar - scientists have already proved that this is a myth. It’s just unpleasant to touch a slimy remnant.
So if you think about which soap is better - liquid or solid, then the answer is obvious. The soap mixture in a plastic bottle with a dispenser wins.
Price
Which is better - liquid soap or solid? If you approach this issue from the point of view of family budget planning, then it is more profitable to buy solid bars. Of course, there are different price categories - and expensive bulk soap for 300 rubles., And cheap large bottles with a liquid product. But if you compare objectively the same brands, varieties, types, it turns out that the solid is cheaper.
Flushing Speed
Lump soap is washed in both cold and hot water, and is quickly washed off. Because of this property, it can be used under any conditions - on a camping trip, in the country, etc. Of course, it is inconvenient to drag a soap box, but much more time is spent on washing liquid soap. And in this round lumpy wins.
Skin effect
Solid soap has a high alkaline environment, it dries the skin of the hands and often leaves a plaque. But it does not affect the deep layers of the epidermis. Liquid soap most often does not cause such problems in humans. But sometimes with prolonged exposure to surfactants, the skin begins to peel off. Manufacturers add various moisturizers to the composition, but they can not always correct the situation.
In this round, a draw: lump and liquid soap should be selected according to individual sensations after use.
If we summarize, we can say the following: bulk soap is much better or equivalent to liquid in almost all respects, except for ease of use. And only therefore liquid soap gradually replaces solid.
Tar soap
Tar soap, as the name suggests, contains birch tar. This product is very useful and have the following properties:
- A powerful anti-inflammatory effect that will reduce rashes on the face.
- A good cleansing effect - against sebum and blackheads.
- Facilitates the course of chronic diseases - psoriasis and eczema.
- Helps in the fight against dandruff, oily seborrhea.
- It has a pronounced antiseptic effect, inhibits the development of fungi and bacteria on the skin.
Which tar soap is better - liquid or solid? In fact, it is practically unimportant. Provided that the product is made on the basis of natural ingredients. That is, if the soap is solid, then it is definitely natural, you just need to make sure that it contains enough tar (from 8 to 10%). If liquid, then you need to check it for surfactant content.
It is also believed that liquid tar soap is not suitable for washing the face, as it foams poorly. There is also an average option on sale - a thick soapy soap in the form of a black sticky paste.
So if you choose between liquid or solid tar soap, it is better to use it conveniently.