Soap can harbor germs if stored improperly. Antibacterial soap directly kills germs. Scrubbing with soap removes bacteria mechanically. Soap molecules stick to oil and water. Scrubbing with soap detaches microbes. Then rinsing washes them away. Bar and liquid soap clean equally well. But bar soap can grow more germs from improper storage. Hard soaps with more lard or tallow scrub better. Milder soaps with less cleansing ingredients are gentler. Too much soap suds do not improve cleaning. More suds just look cleaner. Olive oil soap lacks suds but still cleans.
The soap reaction makes cleaning molecules. These molecules suspend and trap dirt. Soap helps water penetrate fabrics to remove dirt.
Does the soap get dirty when you drop it?
Is a bar of soap clean or dirty?
Bar and liquid soaps are equally effective cleansers. But bar soap can grow more germs from improper storage. Bars of soap are often covered with bacteria. Several studies show bar soaps harbor bacteria such as E. coli, Staph. aureus, and Staph. Antibacterial soap kills germs soap encounters. Compounds in bar soap called surfactants work to remove germs. A bar of soap is as effective as antibacterial soap.
Bar soap wins from an environmental point of view. Liquid soap requires more energy to produce. To ensure bar soap stays clean, keep it away from dirt and mildew. Replace or wash it regularly.