Ida's Soap Box Blog

Antibacterials: More Harm Than Good

Posted on December 3, 2016

Many believe that antibacterial products are more effective at preventing the spread of germs than plain soap. However, data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good.

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How Does Soap Work?

Posted on April 18, 2015

Soap cleans because it can mix with both water and with oil. When greasy dirt is mixed with soapy water, the oil tucked into the center of a tiny micelle cluster and then both are rinsed away.

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The True Cost of Commercial Soap

Posted on August 28, 2014

While it’s true that you are going to pay more for a bar of natural soap, commercial soaps can actually cost you more . . . and in more ways than just money.

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The Origin and History of Soap

Posted on June 16, 2014

No one knows when soap was discovered, but there are various legends surrounding its beginning. According to Roman legend, soap was named after Mount Sapo, an ancient site of animal sacrifices.

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Why Does Natural Soap Sweat in Humid Weather?

Posted on April 17, 2014

A quality bar of handmade natural soap will often "sweat" in humid weather due to the high content of natural humectants like glycerin which readily absorbs moisture from its surroundings.

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Is There Lye in Natural Soap? Is It Safe for Skin?

Posted on February 18, 2014

Is there lye in natural soap — and is it safe? This article explains the chemistry of saponification, why sodium hydroxide is essential to making real soap, and why no lye remains in a properly formulated bar. Learn how science, not myth, shapes traditional cold-process soapmaking.

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