We all know that washing your hands with warm water and soap is the best way to stay clean and disease-free. However, do you decide to use liquid soap or bar soap? And which is the most germ fighting for that matter?

Liquid hand soap didn’t become popular until 1980, but was actually first patented in 1865 by a man named William Shepphard. Softsoap brand popularized the soap and actually tried to monopolize the “simpler soap” by purchasing the entire stock of plastic pumps necessary for making their soap dispensers. While liquid hand soap is neater than that chunky bar of soap that tends to get slimy and unappealing, which soap has a better cleaning effect?

Credit

Since your bar soap is used, put back on the soap dish, and left exposed to moisture, it then tends to grow small amounts of bacteria. With liquid soap being contained, it is less susceptible to contamination by bacteria. Therefore, a bar soap should not be shared with large groups of people spreading germ after germ. Liquid soap is definitely a better option for a public restroom.

Credit

However, at a basic level, there isn’t much difference between liquid and bar soap as far as which one is better. Both types of soap are composed of both alkali salts of fatty acids and detergent properties. The detergent mentioned is called a surfactant, which allows dirt and oil to mix and be washed away with warm water. Thus, washing your hands or body.

Credit

So, whether you choose to use bar soap that can deplete moisture in your skin or liquid soap that goes quickly from the over amount used, both soaps will clean your skin fairly equally. Although there are many types of soap available, it’s most important that you use the soap of your choice and wash those hands.