Keep your soap dry with a self-draining soap holder that has ridges or raised nubs for the soap to fully drain on. Apply the soap bar to a washcloth or loofah and use that to lather yourself. Once used, make sure it gets air. Just coming and going from the bathroom will naturally circulate air. Before use, store your soap in a cool, dry, preferably dark area. Avoid direct light, excessive heat, and humidity. Store scented soap in a container, such as a cardboard soap box.  Dry Soap Lasts Longer: When soap sits in water it breaks down and liquifies to a gel or thick liquid state. Using a good soap holder that keeps the soap elevated will help a great deal. If possible, use a self-draining soap rack or dish that does not retain a pool of standing water. Even when the soap bar is half an inch above the water, the glycerin (cleaning agent) of the bar can draw in nearby moisture a bit. Proper Storage Preserves Soap: Glycerin is the cleaning agent in soap. It is natural and is often removed from commercial soap to be replaced with artificial detergents. This is because glycerin is extremely valuable, and they sell it off at a high profit while giving you cheap chemicals as a replacement. The glycerin in your handcrafted soap is a wonderful thing that attracts moisture and helps pull dirt from the pores of your skin. The fact that it attracts water means it can pull it right from the air and keep your soap less dry than you’d like.