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@southendbootboy - are we talking single use, mini soaps or large bars? I’ve been to places where there is an already in use bar left for guest use, and would never consider using soap that someone may have “credit card swiped”! I usually travel with a small bar of my own, or a travel liquid soup for these circumstances.
I leave a selection of liquid soap for guests in the shower, and a single at their sink; I just think it’s less wasteful than bar soap, even though it may cost more than multi use bars. I do clean the one at the sink, but only rinse the shower ones when turning things over.
I bought a box of single use soaps about 3 years ago. I provide liquid soap in both the shower and at the lavatory. There is always a single use bar in the drawer. It gets used very seldom. That tells me that guests like liquid and I try to defer to guest preferences in the airbnb room. @southendbootboy and his wife share their home and so the wife’s preferences come into play. But for anyone with separate spaces I would strongly recommend liquid soap.
I’ll be donating my big box of soap to one of the shelters soon as it take a lot of space and I don’t see using it all in my lifetime.
Of course, plastic recycling isn’t really a thing now. Sniffle.
I’m not trying to shame anyone, and I apologize for the tangent. I do think it’s important to know about this. I understand the challenges we all face related to hosting. I think bar soap waste is much less permanent than liquid soap waste. I have bars of handmade soap that are cut into small sizes, so there’s fresh soap for each guest. I have a variety of ways of using the leftovers. And if they do end up in the landfill, they degrade more quickly and with less toxicity.
The plastic container from full size bottles is made of plastic. Many are technically recyclable, but in practice it’s not nearly as efficient as we would like to think. Liter bottles are a significant reduction in plastic waste, however.
I can keep them in the home to store liquid laundry detergent. Those puppies from Costco are monsters and my disabled co host cannot manage them.
In the summer we have very big very hot bonfires at the cottage, and this is a good way to dispose of plastics.
OMG!!! Please tell me what info has you believing this? I was taught NEVER to burn plastic! And when I have been within smelling distance of those who do I can definitely smell it and it makes me gag. If I am wrong about the burning of plastic being bad I honestly would like to learn.
I’m worried about how bad gloves are for the environment.
(just kidding)
I do think we can drive ourselves a little crazy trying to nail down everything we do that is bad for the environment. Particularly those of us who host tourists or discretionary travelers since travel is bad for the environment.
You are burning plastic? Please, please, don’t. It’s horribly toxic and I can assure you those toxic fumes don’t stay in your own yard. They pollute the air everyone breathes.
Let’s face it, even our actual existence is bad for the environment. Perhaps we should just drop everything and go back to the trees. Does anyone want to rent our spare branch?
