Why Does Soap and Water Work?
It's not fancy, but soap and water work. Soap removes viral and bacterial particles that have attached to surfaces — your hands, face, or countertops — and suspends them in water so they can be rinsed away. A drop of ordinary soap diluted in water is sufficient to rupture and destroy many types of bacteria and viruses, including coronaviruses. That's the power of natural handcrafted soap.
How to Wash Your Hands Properly
Proper handwashing takes just 20 seconds but makes an enormous difference. Follow these steps every time:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold).
- Apply soap — a natural bar soap works perfectly.
- Lather by rubbing your hands together. Cover the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Scrub for at least 20 seconds — hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice as a timer.
- Rinse thoroughly under clean, running water.
- Dry with a clean towel or air dry.
For the full CDC-recommended handwashing guide, visit: CDC: When and How to Wash Your Hands
Our Soaps for Everyday Handwashing
Not all soaps are created equal. Here's a quick look at how our most popular handwashing soaps compare — and which skin types they're best suited for. Browse our full handmade soap collection →
| Soap | Key Ingredients | Best For | Scent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citrus Lemongrass & Cocoa Butter | Lemongrass essential oil, cocoa butter | All skin types, brightening | Fresh citrus |
| Brazilian Coffee Scrub | Coffee grounds, Brazilian oils | Kitchen hands, odor removal, exfoliation | Rich espresso |
| Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Aged olive oil, no additives | Sensitive & dry skin, gentle daily wash | Unscented / mild |
| Brazilian Copaiba & Açaí | Copaiba oil, açaí berry butter, coconut milk | Acne-prone & sensitive skin | Light botanical |
| French Jasmine & Lilac with Shea Butter | Organic shea butter, jasmine & lilac essential oils | Dry skin, relaxing wash | Floral |
What Is Soap? A Brief History
Soap is a mixture of fat or oil, water, and an alkali salt. The ancient Babylonians are credited as the first soap makers — their recipe of animal fats, wood ash, and water dates back to 2800 B.C. The ancient Egyptians refined it for treating skin diseases and personal washing, and the Romans later adopted it for hygiene.
The basic recipe hasn't changed in thousands of years. Oils or fats combine with an alkali and water through a process called saponification, producing soap and glycerin. Today, two main methods are used: cold process and hot process. Our soaps use the cold process — mixed at room temperature, poured into molds, and cured for several weeks to produce a harder, milder bar.
Why Choose All-Natural Handcrafted Soap?
Commercial soaps sold in grocery stores are largely synthetic detergents — fine for dishes, but harsh on skin. Most strip out the naturally occurring glycerin (which costs more than the soap itself) and sell it to lotion manufacturers. What's left is a bar that dries out your skin over time.
Our handcrafted soaps retain all of their natural glycerin, giving you a cleanser and moisturizer in one. No synthetic additives, no triclosan, no triclocarban — just simple, skin-loving ingredients that have worked for centuries.
Antibacterial Soap Is No Better Than Regular Soap
Studies have shown that antibacterial soaps containing triclosan or triclocarban are no more effective at removing bacteria than regular soap. Our natural handcrafted soaps are completely free of these chemicals — and just as effective at keeping your hands clean.
Featured Soaps for Handwashing
Citrus Natural Handmade Soap
Made with the finest citrus essential oils, this soap brightens skin, protects against sun damage, and makes every handwashing moment feel like a spa ritual. Regular use helps lighten age spots and leaves skin feeling refreshed.
Brazilian Coffee Scrub — The Kitchen Essential
Brazilian coffee grounds exfoliate, detoxify, and absorb garlic, onion, and fish odors from your hands. Coffee oil shares the same pH as human skin, making it exceptionally gentle while deeply cleansing. A must-have next to every kitchen sink.
Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil Soap
Aged using a traditional method with no colorants, preservatives, or fillers. As it cures, the alkaline content breaks down and water evaporates, concentrating the oils into a harder, healthier bar. Ideal for sensitive skin and gentle daily handwashing.
Handwashing & COVID-19: What the Research Says
During the COVID-19 pandemic, handwashing with soap and water was confirmed as one of the most effective defenses against viral transmission. Soap physically disrupts the lipid membrane of the coronavirus, destroying it on contact — something hand sanitizer alone cannot always achieve.
For authoritative guidance on handwashing and COVID-19, see: CDC: Handwashing and COVID-19 and this in-depth article from Forbes: Soap and Water 101: Why It's Best for COVID-19.
Additional resources:
- Hand Sanitizer vs. Soap and Water — Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- How Soap and Water Work — Minnesota Dept. of Health
- WHO: Clean Hands Protect Against Infection
The world's most diverse trees and plant life give our products a variety of beautifying benefits and earthy scents — from the biodiversity of Brazil to Greek olive groves and Australian tea tree. These are the natural alternatives humanity has relied on for thousands of years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Handwashing
Does soap actually kill viruses and bacteria?
Soap doesn't technically "kill" most germs — it removes them. Soap molecules have one end that bonds to water and one end that bonds to oils and fats. When you lather and rinse, soap lifts germs off your skin and suspends them in water so they wash away. For enveloped viruses like coronaviruses, soap also physically destroys the fatty outer membrane, rendering the virus inactive.
Is natural soap as effective as antibacterial soap for handwashing?
Yes. The FDA and multiple peer-reviewed studies have concluded that antibacterial soaps are no more effective than regular soap at preventing illness. In fact, the FDA banned triclosan and triclocarban from consumer soaps in 2016 due to safety concerns. Our natural handcrafted soaps clean just as effectively — without the chemicals.
How long should I wash my hands?
At least 20 seconds. That's roughly the time it takes to hum "Happy Birthday" twice. The scrubbing action — not just the soap — is what physically dislodges germs from your skin. Don't rush the rinse either; make sure all soap is fully washed away.
Is natural soap safe for children and sensitive skin?
Absolutely. Our soaps contain no synthetic fragrances, artificial dyes, or harsh detergents. Many are unscented and formulated with gentle, skin-nourishing oils. They're an excellent choice for children, people with eczema, or anyone with reactive skin. Always check the individual product's ingredient list if you have a known allergy.
Does lye in handmade soap make it unsafe?
No. All soap — commercial or handcrafted — requires lye (sodium hydroxide) to form. However, once saponification is complete, no lye remains in the finished bar. The lye and oils chemically transform into soap and glycerin. When made correctly, there is zero lye in the final product.
What's the best soap for washing hands in the kitchen?
Our Brazilian Coffee Scrub Bar is a kitchen favorite. Coffee grounds naturally absorb garlic, onion, and fish odors, while the exfoliating texture removes grease and grime effectively. It's gentle enough for daily use and tough enough for after-cooking cleanup.
Soap vs. hand sanitizer — which is better?
Soap and water is the gold standard. Hand sanitizer is a convenient backup when soap and water aren't available, but it doesn't remove all types of germs (like norovirus or Cryptosporidium) and is less effective on visibly dirty or greasy hands. Whenever possible, wash with soap and water.
What Our Customers Say
"To start with I just love the fragrance and it made me feel very relaxed and reminded me of childhood baths. It's very soapy and bubbly and moisturizing — my skin is super soft. Will be buying again."
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