Used shaving soaps

[dobbermn]

I get you, OP. The very idea of using something directly on my skin that someone else used? Ugh, pass. But. I have purchased used soap as well and it's turned out well, smelled great, performed well, etc. It's all about your comfort level. In terms of hygiene? Absolutely safe and certainly so if you wash off a 'layer'. In terms of value? That's up to you.

Let me put this differently. Suppose someone on B&B offered to send you a free sample from one of their soaps. Would this creep you out or would you be like, ok, sure, that's nice and I would love the chance to sample. I don't see a difference between the sample and buying a used tub. This is not a judgment. It's just meant to help you gauge whether used soaps are for you. And if there are not, perhaps when you might feel comfortable making an exception.

I hear you. I realize it's soap and soap is used to clean things but heck, you don't know what the last guy did. Maybe he liked to watch porn while holding his soap. Obviously that's extreme but there's a lot of sick people out there. That coupled with the fact that someone is selling soap $5 off new retail and charging $5 shipping (for soap that is readily available) I'm just like "what's the point." Maybe it would be different if it were some kind of rare discontinued soap.

I appreciate everyone's comments. Apparently it's common and lots of people have no problem with it.

 

[Timeclo]

I hear you. I realize it's soap and soap is used to clean things but heck, you don't know what the last guy did. Maybe he liked to watch porn while holding his soap. Obviously that's extreme but there's a lot of sick people out there. That coupled with the fact that someone is selling soap $5 off new retail and charging $5 shipping (for soap that is readily available) I'm just like "what's the point." Maybe it would be different if it were some kind of rare discontinued soap.

I appreciate everyone's comments. Apparently it's common and lots of people have no problem with it.

It really depends on the price for me. Sometimes the person will sell a $20 soap for 12 bucks including shipping. That's a good deal. When they sell it for 15 and add 5 for shipping, then might as well get a new soap.

 

[balesofhay91]

This is the first time I have ever heard of anyone inquiring about sanitizing soap. I can't recall buying any used soaps, but I have been gifted used soaps before and used them with no problems. One was a vintage Williams soap that was used by a friend's grandpa in the 70's and was found in the attic after sitting up there for about 40 years. I don't mind shaving with used razors, brushes, soaps, creams, or aftershaves. But I won't shave with a used DE blade for obvious reasons.

 

[SHAVEWIZARD420]

We use soap to wash things. That's soap, I dont see the problem and you could put it for few days in quarantine if you want.

 

[SHAVEWIZARD420]

I have no problem buying and using used soap. Have bought as well as sold many soaps since joining this wonderful hobby. Used soaps are a great way to try things for a much cheaper price, especially when samples are not a option. Have quite a few soaps I picked up on BST, pass around boxes, PIF's, etc. that I never heard of before but turned out to be excellent and have turned around and bought direct from the artisans themselves.

As for sanitary concerns, soap is cleansing and is what is used to wash away germs in the first place. It's funny how our brains work sometimes by picking and choosing what are germ concerns and what are not.

 

[razorboi]

Buying used soap for thrift does not appeal to me.
But, having the opportunity to acquire a discontinued tallow-based soap, such as those that everyone here has been raving about as the Holy Grail of shaving soap, or at least much better than the current veggie offering, might entice me...
The surface melts away with a little water, so what's everyone afraid of?

 

[FarmerTan]

Buying used soap for thrift does not appeal to me.
But, having the opportunity to acquire a discontinued tallow-based soap, such as those that everyone here has been raving about as the Holy Grail of shaving soap, or at least much better than the current veggie offering, might entice me...
The surface melts away with a little water, so what's everyone afraid of?

Your post made me think of old, dry, cracking bar hand soap, like "Irish Spring" that used to be sitting in the bathroom of a gas/service station when I was a boy. We'd all go out air in our tires, listen to the cars go over the air line, thus ringing the bell to tell the grease monkey to go fill up the tank.

We all used that soap, no hot water hooked up to the sink....that bar of soap had three colors: green, white, and BLACK, lol!

And all of us are still alive! How many gallons of petroleum products were dumped into the sewer system, by accident and on purpose, and we worry about used shaving soap. Lol, my old man would be laughing and shaking his head at me!!

 

[Steve56]

Buying used soap for thrift does not appeal to me.
But, having the opportunity to acquire a discontinued tallow-based soap, such as those that everyone here has been raving about as the Holy Grail of shaving soap, or at least much better than the current veggie offering, might entice me...
The surface melts away with a little water, so what's everyone afraid of?

Wise words here.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Your post made me think of old, dry, cracking bar hand soap, like "Irish Spring" that used to be sitting in the bathroom of a gas/service station when I was a boy. We'd all go out air in our tires, listen to the cars go over the air line, thus ringing the bell to tell the grease monkey to go fill up the tank.

We all used that soap, no hot water hooked up to the sink....that bar of soap had three colors: green, white, and BLACK, lol!

And all of us are still alive! How many gallons of petroleum products were dumped into the sewer system, by accident and on purpose, and we worry about used shaving soap. Lol, my old man would be laughing and shaking his head at me!!

And some guys would have left the bathroom without washing their hands because they felt it was gross to use a soap someone else had used. and maybe a few of them have posted in this thread.

 

[FarmerTan]

And some guys would have left the bathroom without washing their hands because they felt it was gross to use a soap someone else had used. and maybe a few of them have posted in this thread.

LOL! OK, I admit I'm a certifiable germaphobe. But folks, we is living in Covid times. My wife and I were out today, living large at Sam's Club. Masked up. Both of us needed to use the toilet. This is brave for a woman. So I go in, do my duty. Anyway, TWO GROWN BUTTED MEN walk out without washing their hands!

My wife comes out and points at a woman, "she didn't wash her hands!" I ALMOST got all Barney Fife on 'em and made a citizen's arrest!

Probably immediately got outside, took of the masks and picked their noses!

I'm moving to a clean state like the Luna Colony...