soapdish wars

[paul wheaton]

Having a small debate here ... looking to take a bit of a poll to get an idea of what other people do ...

When taking a shower in a tiled shower stall or tub area, do you keep soap in a soapdish in the tub area? How about shampoo?

One party in this debate is saying that one should not keep soaps, shampoos or other products in a tiled space because it leads to grout problems. Further, that one should towel off all grouted areas after every shower.

The other party says that one should try to keep your soap dry, but bottles can be anywhere. Further, no toweling out the area after.

Each party is claiming that a vast majority of people do it their way (80% or more).

Please share what your experience have been with tiled spaces (non tiled spaces don't count).

Thanks!

[fred rosenberger]

we don't have tiles now, but growing up we did. there were always bottles of shampoo and bars of soap in, on, and around the tub. the soap was always in the built-in soap dish holder that had a plastic insert piece the soap actually rested on.

i only remember my father re-grouting once in the 25+ years i was there.

[Angela Poynton]

I only use liquid soap so I'm guessing I can't take part in this little survey.

[Stan James]

Towelling off the tile would probably make it look nicer longer but what a job! I had a friend who sprayed the tile with some kind of furniture polish to make it shiney and keep moisture from building mold in the grout. Never tried it mice elf.

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

Originally posted by Paul Wheaton:

Further, that one should towel off all grouted areas after every shower.

Two words: Grout sealant. We keep a squeegee in the shower to get the water off the glass doors after a shower, and I can see the logic in that; but toweling off the grout is not something I would ever agree to.

[Ganpi Srinivasan]

Originally posted by Angela Poynton:
I only use liquid soap so I'm guessing I can't take part in this little survey.

same here...i use liquid body soap - so have to recuse myself tho' i wud love to contribute!!

[John Dunn]

Wow! I'm glad the wife won't read this. I've already got like 50 bazillon new rules to follow, that didn't seem to exist in my bachelor days.

[paul wheaton]

So the important news appears to be that nobody towels off the tiles after the shower/tub. Plus, everybody stores all of their showering supplies (shampoo and soap) in the shower/tub.

Any more votes along these lines? If you have experience with tiles, your vote counts!

[David O'Meara]

Tiles: yes, although the grout is sealed.
Soap: sometimes, always in the shower.
toweling: nope, not ever.

[Axel Janssen]

I use liquid soap and no toweling.
My parents have rule that the last one in the bathroom towels.
It might has to do with the water. In my hometown water has a high lime concentration.

[Marilyn de Queiroz]

No toweling, but humidity here is probably less than humidity where you are.

[Scott Selikoff]

Liquid soap? I still think its a fad. Bars of soap for life!

I'm waaaayyyy to tired in the morning to remember to towel off tiles... I'm just lucky if I leave for work in the morning with my hair combed, my keys in my pocket, and the bottom of my pant legs not buried in my shoes.
[ December 19, 2005: Message edited by: Scott Selikoff ]