Soap dish or magnetic soap holder?

Bar soap and shampoo bars have one enemy: standing water. If a bar sits in a puddle after you wash your hands, the bottom turns soft and slimy and the soap is used up faster. Whether you go for a soap dish, a soap tray or a magnetic soap holder is mostly a question of space, cleaning effort and taste. Here is an honest comparison of the options and a few tips to keep your soap in good shape for as long as possible.

Why bar soap should stay dry

Soap dissolves in water. That is the point when you wash, but not in between. If the bar stays wet all the time:

The underside turns soft and mushy, and the next wash rinses part of it away.
A greasy ring of soap residue builds up on the dish and needs regular cleaning.
Shampoo bars are often more porous than soap and are particularly sensitive to moisture.

So the basic rule is simple: water has to drain away, and air has to reach the soap.

The classic soap dish

The soap dish is the classic on the washbasin. It comes in ceramic, porcelain, wood, stone, silicone or stainless steel and can be a nice decorative piece.

Soap floating on a magnetic soap holder above a stone washbasin

Soap dish with drainage

A dish with ridges, holes or a grid is much better than a closed one. Water drains away and the soap does not sit in a puddle. Just make sure the water can actually go somewhere, otherwise it simply collects one level lower.

Wooden soap dish

Wood looks warm and natural and drains well if it has ridges or slats. It needs a little care, though: wood that is constantly wet can discolour or crack. Letting it dry out now and then helps.

Ceramic soap dish

Ceramic is easy to clean and available in countless shapes and colours. Without drainage, however, water tends to sit in the hollow and softens the soap from below.

Pros of a soap dish:

Just put it down, no installation needed.
Huge choice of materials and designs.
Works for any soap shape and weight.

Cons:

Takes up space on the washbasin or in the shower.
The soap rests on one side, which dries more slowly.
Soap residue collects in the dish and needs rinsing out regularly.

The magnetic soap holder

With a magnetic soap holder the soap no longer rests on anything. A small piece of metal in the soap sticks to a magnet mounted on the wall or basin. The soap hangs freely and can dry from all sides.

There are versions with suction cups, screws or adhesive. Suction cups are quick to attach but can come loose over time. Screws hold securely but mean drilling holes in your tiles. An adhesive pad made for damp rooms is a good middle ground.

Pros of a magnetic soap holder:

The soap dries all around and stays firmer.
No dish collecting soap residue, so the sink stays clean.
Saves space because the soap hangs on the wall.
Take it off and dock it back in one move.

Cons:

Each bar needs a piece of metal pressed in once, usually a bottle cap.
Very hard or crumbly soaps need a little preparation (see below).
There is a weight limit, very large blocks will not fit.

Soap dish or magnetic soap holder: which suits you?

You change soaps often or use very large bars? A good soap dish with drainage is the simplest solution.
Your washbasin is small or your shower has no shelf? A magnetic soap holder uses the wall and frees up space.
Mushy soap residue drives you mad? Then the magnet is the better choice, because nothing rests on a surface.
You like it decorative? Both work: the dish as an object on the vanity, the holder as a splash of colour on the wall.

You do not have to pick just one. Many people use the magnet at the washbasin and a dish in the bath, or the other way round.

How the Soapi works

The Soapi is our magnetic soap holder, developed in Berlin. It sticks with a waterproof adhesive pad to smooth surfaces such as tiles, glass, stainless steel, mirrors or smooth stone. No drilling needed. You press an ordinary bottle cap into the soap, for example from a coke or beer bottle. The magnet in the Soapi then holds the soap floating in place.

Magnetic soap holder next to a black tap

Up to 250 g: most soaps and shampoo bars weigh between 80 and 150 g and fit easily.
Adhesive pad instead of suction cup: holds permanently on smooth, flat surfaces. Not suitable for surfaces with a lotus-effect coating.
10 colours: from cream white to black, to suit bathroom and kitchen.
Material: the housing is injection moulded from recycled plastic, containing around 90 % discarded fishing nets and ropes.
Made in Berlin, with a 10-year durability guarantee.

You will find all colours in our magnetic soap holder collection.

Tips to make your soap last

Let it drip off briefly after use before putting it back or docking it.
Keep it out of the shower spray. A spot just next to it is enough.
Wet your hands, turn off the tap, then lather. The foam stays on your hands and less water runs over the soap. You save water too.
Store spare bars cool, dry and airy, not in airtight boxes.
Rinse dishes and trays regularly so residue does not build up.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get the bottle cap into a hard soap?

Wet the soap and let it sit for half an hour to an hour. Then it is soft enough to press the cap halfway in. Smooth the soap around the cap so no gap remains, and let it dry.

Does a magnetic soap holder work with shampoo bars?

Yes. Shampoo bars are sometimes a bit more porous, a little moisture helps when pressing in the cap.

Can the bottle cap rust?

It happens rarely, mostly when the coating is scratched. Then simply use a different cap for the next soap.

Does an adhesive pad hold in a damp bathroom?

Yes, if the surface is smooth and clean. Clean it with water only, dry it well and press the holder firmly all around. Wall and holder should be at least room temperature.

Which soap dish is the best?

The one where the water really drains away. Whether wood, ceramic or stainless steel is then mostly a matter of taste.