Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with soap

Green Exfoliating Face Scrub?

entropicamericana — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:20:25 -0800

So my Nivea Energizing Face Scrub has been plasticizing the ocean. This won't do. Can you recommend a greener (yet still exfoliating) alternative for men with "average" skin?

Best wet shave soap for sensitive skin?

HopStopDon'tShop — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:14:54 -0800

MenShavingFilter: what is the best soap I can use for a wet shave given that I have very sensitive skin? Preferably available in a store in Montreal, but at least available to order online for delivery to Montreal. No further explanation seems necessary other than to say that I have read through a number of threads on this topic and it's probably made me a little more confused than anything (so, with all due respect, please don't link to previous threads on similar topics). When I don't wet shave I'm a big fan of the King of Shaves line - both because it seems great for my skin and because I can actually see my face, rather than suds, when I'm shaving.

Where can I find a soap bubble blowing pipe that looks like a realistic wooden smoking pipe?

leptin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:03:52 -0800

Where can I find a soap bubble blowing pipe that looks like a realistic wooden smoking pipe? All the ones I see online are made of brightly colored plastic. Alternatively, is it possible to modify a real smoking pipe for blowing soap bubbles? Thank you very much for your help!

Where can I go smell some shaving soap?

burnfirewalls — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:16:00 -0800

Where can I purchase shaving soaps in the Chicago metro area? I'm switching to shaving with a brush & safety razor and I have been eagerly reading the assorted AskMes and forums dedicated to the topic. I've got my razor, my brush and other accoutrement all picked out, but I'm not sure what shaving soap to select. I'm interested in the whole soap & mug bit, after remembering that I had a plastic set when I was a toddler. I'm ordering the rest of the equipment online but Mrs. Burnfirewalls is very sensitive to smells. I'd like to take her to a store and let her select some shaving soaps for me to use. Where can I do that in the Chicago metro area?

Bonus points for recommendations of soaps that don't smell like the Proraso that comes in the green metal tube, or sandalwood.

Germs on my hands

MrMulan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:17:15 -0800

Is it possible for bacteria, and/or viruses to ever physically adapt to soap, alcohol, peroxide, iodine, ect.? Washing your hands is the best way to cut down on a known vector for germs to spread. Could bacteria adapt physically in a similar way lice or hookworms have? Or does their size make it impossible? Same for viruses.

I know bacteria can and are adapting to chemical solutions like anti-bacterial soap. When hand washing with soap, the soap is not suppose to kill the bacteria, but it is the physical activity of rubbing that gets rid of the bacteria. The soap just makes it physically easier to transfer bacteria from your hands to the soap which is then washed down the drain.

As for viruses, could they ever evolve to the point that the usual disinfectants would not work? (alcohol, lysol, ect.)

Personal answers, opinions, anecdotes, are all welcomed, but links are always preferred.

As always thanks in advanced.

No more facial soap bars, switching to liquid soap.

mtphoto — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:54:22 -0800

What kind of liquid facial soap do you recommend? I'd like to stop using facial soap bars to wash my face. I've used the Neutrogena "transparent facial bar" for several months, but I don't like how to bar melts away so quickly. What liquid facial soaps do you recommend?

I'm a guy, if that changes your suggestions at all.

Hopin' for a jet-black soapin'

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:38:20 -0800

I'm looking for soap bars colored black... I'm looking for soap bars colored black (though not Black Soap, which is a special type of soap).

More:
- I'm trying to replace a bar soap once made by Crabtree & Evelyn for men. (no longer listed). It lathered up white for shaving.
- neutral scent or no scent is best. Otherwise a scent made for men.
- oval bar is better than a brick bar.
- not crazy expensive. Under $8 ?
- nope to Halloween trick soap! Nope to soap on a rope.

Any ideas?

Smells like clean spirit

bradly — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:35:35 -0800

Can someone identify the clean soap (or other laundry product) smell I keep noticing among hispanics? For years and with dozens of encounters (with those from various latin countries) I have experienced said smell.

Characteristics of the smell: simple, sweet, soapy, clean

There may be slight variations, but from what I can remember it is basically the same among those who I've met, so I assume there is one (or a small number) of products that are most commonly used.

Thanks in advance!

Triple foam? Super Orange? Car wash nonsense?

abdulf — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:12:01 -0800

Automated conveyor-style car washes - what's triple foam? What's worth paying for and what isn't? This is where I get my car washed: Quick Quack Car Wash

There's the basic wash - which is supposed to just be soap and water. Then there's the next level wash that has "triple foam" which looks like a yellow, blue and red foam that just looks like colored soap. Then there's a wheel cleaner, wheel shine, undercarriage thing, super orange, rain-x...

Once I paid for the whole deal, and my car doesn't look different from the basic wash.

If the "super orange" and "triple foam" are waxes, does it make any difference if they're only applied for the 3-4 seconds that they're sprayed on and wiped off? And wouldn't Rain-X application be bad for clearcoat if it's sprayed on the entire car?

I'd like to get an unlimited wash package, so I can wash dust and bugs that accumulate around here.

Anyone worked at a car wash before? What chemicals are being sprayed on my car? What's worth having and what isn't?

And generally speaking, what should I do be doing to protect my cars paint job?

Anyone know the scents used to create the Kiehls "Ultimate Man" Body Scrub Soap?

Mesach — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:20:12 -0800

Calling all sniffers, Does anyone know the different smells that go into getting Kiehls wonderful scent for their "Ultimate Man" Body Scrub Soap? I know that I can definitely detect Grapefruit, and some mint, but I know its more complex that.

I am making up some of my own shampoo for my girlfriend and she loves the scent, and I would like to approximate it as much as possible, so has anyone else also pondered this, or came across it somewhere?

Help me open my Clean & Clear face wash!

pulled_levers — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:14:29 -0800

Help me open my Clean & Clear face wash! My face wash comes in a container with a pump, like a regular hand soap dispenser. To prevent accidental spilling, the pumps are twisted down onto the container. I've been able to get these pumps out and working for other things but for some reason, this pump just won't unlock. Agh!

Is there any special trick that you use to get these pump things open?

Thanks!

How do I make soap?

cheerwine — Sat, 16 May 2009 21:32:42 -0800

I want to start making homemade cold-process bar soap in my kitchen. Help? I've seen several basic instructions online, but if anyone has any specific (vegetable-based) recipes they'd like to send my way, I'd appreciate it. I have assorted essential oils that I can use, and would like to experiment with using goat milk at some point.

Also, where can I get lye in/near Brooklyn, NY? How much ventilation is required for a "well ventilated room" for mixing lye safely? My kitchen has one average-sized window and a fan that I can point toward it- should that be safe, or should I do it outside?

Anything else I should know? Thanks!

Help me avoid smelling like a hacky sack all-star.

Roman Graves — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:58:29 -0800

I'd like to start using more natural bath and body products, but I don't want to smell like flowers or hippies. I currently use Old Spice products for all my shower and deodorant needs, and love the way they smell, but want something more organic. Are there natural products out there with a more masculine smell than lilac and more pleasant than patchouli? I browsed the Lush site, and there seemed to be some possibilities there, but first hand opinions are appreciated. Deodorants are the main issue.

Je veux savon de castille!

slograffiti — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:01:31 -0800

is there a website that i can order--and have shipped--Dr. Bronner's soap (lavender, liquid castile) online. Catch: It needs to be shipped to Paris, France. (Cost, within reasonable limits, is not a factor.) help me make someone very happy, please! Also, I would prefer the website to be in English.

Where else can I find pretty, girly, smelly bath things?

katillathehun — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:14:30 -0800

Totally girly but unique bath and body products. Who makes 'em? I mean besides Bath & Body Works, Sephora, The Body Shop, and Lush. I'm partial to bath stuff and lotions that smell like dessert rather than flowery scents (I'm also a sucker for good package design), but really, I'm just looking for a new place to indulge my rarely-acknowledged girly side. What shops do you recommend? Either online or local (Los Angeles) works for me.

How can I get bubble bath out of a couch cushions?

Mamapotomus — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:26:29 -0800

How can I clean liquid bubble bath out of the fabric couch cushions? The care tag says NOT to wash/launder the fabric cover as it will shrink and no longer fit the foam interior. The unattended toddler dumped about a half bottle of bubble bath over 1 couch cushion and part of the arm of the couch. The cover does unzip, but the label says not to remove it. The interior cushion is a dense foam with a layer of polyester fiberfill glued on to each side.

I stuffed a thick towel between the cover & cushion to try and absorb it before it sinks into the foam but I doubt it was in time. I've also tried to blot up as much of the liquid with paper towels (no water!) but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

Since rinsing it out doesn't seem to be an option is there anything I could use to absorb it up- like salt or something?

Alternately, I'll trade you a slightly used toddler and rosemary scented squishy couch for a new loveseat.

Like drinking the best parts of a bonfire...

fake — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:48:08 -0800

I just discovered lapsang souchong , which might be the greatest drink I've ever encountered. What other smoky things can you recommend? I'm also interested in non-food smoky things, like pine tar soap. Cedar, pine, and juniper are some of my favorite smells.

Spanish-language soap with nuns and priests?

Furious Fitness — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:12:06 -0800

What's the name of a Spanish-language soap with priests and nuns in the opening, maybe based in Puerto Rico, character maybe named "Maria," and a title word SIN or NIS?

Will Dr. Bronner stay good for the rest of my life?

Flunkie — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:18:35 -0800

How long does liquid soap keep? First, I'm specifically talking about Dr. Bronner's, in case that matters.

Second, I'm not asking "How long does it take to use it up"; rather, I'm asking "If I don't use it up, how long does it remain, uh, soap".

I'm running low, and was about to purchase another bottle, but noticed that by far the best deal by volume is for some absurd amount of soap that might just last me the rest of my life.

So, hopefully the answer to my question is "many many years; effectively forever". But if not, I'd like to know how long it stays good for, so that I can plan my purchase accordingly.

Thanks in advance.

What can I do about a stuck dishwasher main soap dispenser lid?

criticman — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:44:43 -0800

What can I do about a stuck dishwasher main soap dispenser lid? The main soap dispenser that you fill with your dish washing detergent of preference and close the lid on is stuck closed. I can manually open it, but it fails to open during any of the various wash cycle options. I have instead just been filling it and leaving it open but I know this likely loses the soap in the pre-clean phase (which the un-enclosed dish is intended to be used for). My dishes, however, come out fairly clean.

I was wondering if anyone knows the likely cause OR if any of the pre-packaged dish washer detergent balls/cubes can just be tossed in at the start and successfully make it past the initial pre-clean phase all the way to the primary wash cycle. They all say to put them in the main dispenser and close lid (yet they all say "contain pre-wash cycle cleansers") so I am hoping someone can speak from experience.

It is a Kenmore dishwasher if that matters. If no one has any input, I will just have to call the home warranty company and shell out $65 for them to come fix it (not so worried about the money but arranging to be home from work is an issue).

How can I make shampoo out of soap bars?

uauage — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:34:11 -0800

There's this soap that I really like and leaves my hair glowing and feeling very clean. I would like to "melt" the soaps into a bottle so I can use it as proper shampoo, especially when I go to the gym. Does anyone know how this can be done?

Can soap be made dirty?

ws — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 05:12:41 -0800

Can an anti-bacterial bar of soap become "dirty?". . . like, what if you dropped a bar of dial or the sort into say, a cat litterbox? After washing the physical residue off of said bar of soap, is it clean to use from hence forth out?

Uses for Dr Bronner soap?

ShootTheMoon — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:29:12 -0800

How does Dr Bronner soap work? What are the 18 uses that they claim on the bottle? So I use the stuff as a body wash. Works great. What other uses are there for this? I've seen the FAQ on the website, but they are not very descriptive. Is the stuff really safe to use on all surfaces? They claim it can act as a toothpaste, but will it protect teeth as well as a typical crest style toothpaste?

Also, by buying this soap, I'm not supporting some hippie cult right? Some of the text on the bottle scares me a little :)

HygieneFilter: should I always use soap when washing my hands?

XiBe — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:56:19 -0800

HygieneFilter: must I always use soap when washing my hands? My view is, I take a shower every day, hence my hands are cleaned everyday, because I use them to soap-up the rest of my body. Soap on hand = clean hands.

So, no need to wash my hands with soap before/after usual daily tasks, only if I get my hands dirty (before&after eating a burger, after fixing a pipe, before cuddling a baby, after cuddling a dog). For other daily tasks, I tend to rely on a rule of thumb of a good wash up with water and an inversion of the 42 seconds rule (ahem).

Case in point: the g/f saw me just washing my hand (w/o soap) after a quick pee, and insisted on my using soap (not just water) everytime from now on.

While I know it's more hygienic to soap-up rather than just water-up my post-loo hands, I always felt I was able to tell when my hands needed more than just watering, and thus was able to go about my duties faster

I know she's right about it, obviously, but am I that much wrong about my asumption?

Scrub-a-dub-dub, the boys came out of the tub

curagea — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:40:51 -0800

OldCommercialFilter: Taiwanese soap commercial - help me find a video on the tubes! When I was five and vacationing in Taiwan in the early 90's, I saw a soap commercial where a group of boys and grown men, all naked (thankfully, with their backs to the camera), scrub their butts with their towels and dance while singing:

"Loo lala loo lala loolaloolalay
Loola loo la loo la loolaloolalay
Loo lala loo lala loolaloolalay
Loola loo la loo la LAAAYYY!"

(Yeah, imagine my five-year-old expression when I saw this)

I kind of found the lyrics to the song unintentionally, but what I really want is the commercial itself. Unfortunately, I forgot what soap brand it was. So, Taiwanese MeFites, help me identify the soap and find a video (if possible) so I can flip my brother out. Yeah, he remembers the commercial too.