Our friends in Japan had this at their house... I thought it was kind of nasty.

clever.. but, kinda of gross.

I think that I would rather waste a little bit of soap rather than buy a plastic contraption for them that would be a pain to clean.

I know it's soap, but my first reaction was 'gross'. I'm glad I'm not alone in posting this.

Heh. There's a book of Japanese Chindogus (useless inventions) that lists something similar to this. In the book's photos (they actually made this invention), you put little soap chips into a plastic little box, then grind them all together into a larger, ridiculous-looking soap bar.

The book explains that it's no longer a useless Chindogu since it's being marketed in the US. I wonder if this is the product they're talking about or if there's something even more similar to the one in the book?

http://www.amazon.com/Bento-Unuseless-Japanese-Inventions-More/dp/0393326764

This was posted a couple of weeks ago, and no one liked it then either!

Would it be less nasty if you hung it in the shower? I never got on the body wash train, and still use bar soap. Granted, I live alone, so I would be the only one in the shower. Just wondering.

It looks like someone milking a cow.

The less "high tech" way is cheesecloth or old pantyhose--I remember seeing that in a "hints from Heloise" or something once. Neither option appeals to me, particularly since even if I use another bar, it's much more frugal than buying a bottle of body wash that runs out quickly (but I'm not adequately frugal, so i do both...)

Bleh.

I once knew someone who put all their soap slivers into the foot of an old pair of pantyhose to use in the same manner as this contraption. Kind of gross, but she would use it for household cleaning, and not showers or hand-washing.

Wasn't this posted a week or two ago?

And *how* many slivers of saved soap does it takes for this thing to pay for itself??

Why is it gross? I don't get it.

I'll add an additional "Wasn't this posted a week or two ago?" How many re-posts and round-ups will there be? Apparently, quite a few. Laziness.

I don't get how it is gross...it's soap.

I have a soap company so I often run into soap tidbits... but I've noticed that the soap I make at least is great for cleaning up chrome, I sometimes break it up and mix it with a little borax and it's a great bathroom cleaner whether it be the tub or the sink. It sparkles!

Agree with everyone else, this seems like it was posted on Re-Nest a while ago as well as the main Apartment Therapy page. The major consensus was; the manufacturing of the plastics involved outweigh the "frugal" benefits. It's a nice idea, yes, but pantyhose, cheesecloth, even the oldschool method of smashing bars together are more "eco-friendly" and therefore cost efficient. Since this is a "well designed" product, we can assume the price tag will reflect this. *sigh

We use water to "glue" the old slivers of soap to the new bar. Easy peasy.

eu. germ factory.

Mr. Dangerous, naw, it's a frugality thing.

I'm from the same part of the country where people still boast about the good stuff they found at the dump.

I take that last tiny sliver of soap and fuse it on to my next bar. It works when both pieces are wet, and you never have to throw away any soap.

Hee! Mr. D. I don't think I'm quite conveying the sense of things. To my people (rural New Englanders), frugality is our idea of a good time.

Going to the dump to find stuff is really about the thrill of the chase, not about pressing need.

I appreciate the frugality at work here, but there's something... phallic about this. I could go into detail, but I'll spare you all.

@Mr. Dangerous: Ooh lets buy all new things all the time and throw out the old ones the moment they aren't current until we are choking on industrial waste and landfill and trash... then we 'll just move on to the next planet. Guess what? You are already poor, dude. Poor in spirit.

i hate bar soap - liquid dispensers are less messy and more hygienic.

i think its a great idea. might get a little nasty there at the um... tip? but i always get a little weary when we toss out the worn down bar. its still good! why waste? its not frugality- its good sense.

They use these at schools in Japan, but of course not as fancy. It's a good way not to lose the slippery soap down the drain, however I never really used it (dunno why.. I don't see it as unhygienic, because it is soap after all). The idea is good, but I agree that this over designed plastic version is rather wasteful.

germ factory? unhygienic? have you guys ever tried sampling bar soap for bacteria? there's not much there. that's why it's SOAP.

Mr. D. and others. There are many view points and many ways to conserve. Congratulations to you Mr. D on your relative wealth. I have an income of less than $1,000 a year because of health problems. I am thrilled to be able to move into my own place. A travel trailer in a friends back yard. I have relatives that have been supporting me and will continue to. I like to recycle and build compost piles. The compost piles do wonderful things for the soil that no chemical can. I also know where to buy inexpensive items.
I will be spending my budget on my new home to spruce it up and I went to a freecycle type page to find free fencing for my dog. I will be buying new sheets for my bed, I bought new paint, but I recycled the fencing. I'll be wasting some electricity in the winter to heat it, but not as much as a larger place. It is all relative and you can't jump to conclusions. There is no shame in being poor as long as you are doing the best you can.

Wow Mr. Dangerous is a prick.