Is soap self-cleaning in nature?
If you have watched the hit sitcom ‘FRIENDS’, then you may recall the scene in which Joey questions Chandler why he minds sharing the same spoon, but finds it ok to share the same soap. “Because soap is soap. It's self cleaning,” Chandler says.
Well, if you too are wondering whether it is ok to share a soap with other people in your house, then this article may help you reach a conclusion.
Truth about bar soap and germs
Yes, there can be germs on a bar of soap. One April-June 2006 study in the Indian Journal of Dental Research found that bar soap harbored two to five different types of germs. Further, a July 2015 study in the American Journal of Infection Control, done in a hospital setting found that about 62 percent of bar soaps were contaminated, while just 3 percent of liquid soaps were. Bacteria lurking on soap could potentially spread from person-to-person from share.
What germs can be there on a soap bar?
According to health experts, some of the germs in question sitting on soap could include E. coli, salmonella and shigella bacteria, as well as viruses like norovirus and rotavirus and staph. Some can spread by getting into wounds or scratches on the skin, while others are spread from feces.
Can soap bars transmit diseases?
Even after the possibility of the presence of germs, researchers have found that soap does not appear to transmit disease in general.
In a rigorous study published in 1965, scientists conducted a series of experiments in which they intentionally contaminated their hands with about five billion bacteria, noted The New York Times. The bacteria were disease-causing strains, such as Staph and E. coli. The scientists then washed their hands with a bar of soap and had a second person wash with the same bar of soap. They found that bacteria were not transferred to the second user and concluded: “The level of bacteria that may occur on bar soap, even under extreme usage conditions (heavy usage, poorly designed non-drainable soap dishes, etc.) does not constitute a health hazard.”
Infection that can spread
While sharing a bar of soap is mostly safe, there is one infection that may transmit by sharing the same soap. In one 2008 study of University of Florida football players, those who shared soap were more likely to have recurring infections of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant staph infection. Due to this infection, the US CDC also recommends not sharing personal items like soap bars.
What can be done?
Broadly speaking, it is not a big health hazard to share a bar of soap. However, research around the spread of MRSA is a point of concern. If you do not want to share a soap bar or use due to the possibility of growth of bacteria, you can switch to a liquid soap or body wash and even opt for one with a zero-touch dispenser.
If you do use a soap bar or share it with immediate family members, it is ideal to rinse off the soap bar first, before using it on your body. Make sure you lather well while using the soap. Once washed, dry out the soap bar as bacteria is more likely to grow on a wet bar with skin cells for the pathogens to feed onto. Using a draining soap dish, and also wash and clean it regularly. Lastly, it is recommended to share a soap rather than using no soap at all, as soap is ultimately beneficial in protecting your body from several viruses and bacteria, and the potential infections they carry.