All purpose soap
 

Hi, husband and I will be travelling to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons in the summer. Some of our lodging will not be supplying soap, shampoo etc...I was wondering if someone can suggest a gentle all purpose liquid soap that we can use for laundry, hair and body. This would save room in our suitcase and make things simple. I know of Dr. Bonners Castile Soap, but after reading reviews some say it causes dryness and itching. Just curious, can anyone comment or suggest something different? Thanks so much.

Any shampoo will work for hand laundry and soap.

Or you can get a shampoo bar from LUSH or similar.

When trekking during the day, I always have a packet of soap leaves in my daypack. They come in packs of 50 sheets, and lather up beautifully with just a little water. Here's a post based on my experience:
http://packinglighttravel.com/travel...ithsoapleaves/

Go to REI or a local outdooor, camping, hiking store. They sell what you are looking for. I buy the largest size and pour it into 3oz containers to meet airlie requirements. It is concentrated so a little goes a long way.
Or buy LUSH solid products as janisj suggested.

I would use the Lush shampoo bar for hair and clothes; I don't love it for the body, but it will do in a pinch. Personally, I'd get that and a regular bar of soap and call it a day :-)

I would use my 3 oz. travel containers and take what I use at home: one for shampoo, one hair conditinoer, one for laundry detergent or woolite, plus a travel size bar of soap.

It doesn't take any more room in your suitcase to have 3 different (appropriate) things, as long as you don't take full-sized containers.

I was thinking much the same thing, suze. Or, put another way, if a bar of soap won't fit, the packing problem is much bigger than that!

I buy really nice scented travel soaps at my favorite soap store. They are a tad bigger than the size a hotel would leave for you. I don't even make a dent in them during a 2 week trip. So basically I'm saying what this person wants, they could have easily tucked into a sandwich-sized ziplock bag.

What you want is readily available and has been for decades. Backpackers (those tho travel in wilderness) have been using it for a long time for all their washing needs. Body, clothes, dishes, hair, anything.

http://www.rei.com/product/407166/ca...-campsuds-2-oz

It comes in various size bottles but as it is concentrated, a little goes a long way as HappyTrvlr says.

Let others carry several bottles of individual products while you do the smart thing and carry only one bottle for all your needs.

The "smart thing" to me is having what I need when I travel. And that doesn't mean using camping soap to wash my hair.

To wash hair what you need is a product with surfactants. That is what cleans your hair.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv...98/shampoo.htm

As for the rest of the advertising hype of one brand vs. another, that's all it is, hype. They all clean your hair.

Campsuds has surfactants and cleans your hair equally as well.
http://www.gofastandlight.com/Concen...fo/H-CAMPSUDS/

Carrying one little bottle of a concentrated product vs. carrying 4 bottles to do the same thing is a no brainer to me.

I am not a camper but travel several times a year, mostly domestically, but to Europe 2 or 3 times/annually; for years I have made do with a bar of olive oil soap and a travel size bottle of conditioner. The olive oil soap is gentle and suds well enough for laundry purposes and I really can't tell any difference with my hair when compared to my former shampoos. That may not be the case for everyone, but it works for me. I use Savon De Marseille Soap 14.1 Oz 72% Olive Oil - Marius Fabre (ordered from the giant on-line retailer. (Not sure if Fodors allows referrals.)

Almost any bar of soap will in fact clean your hair pctraveler. What it's not so good for is washing clothes or dishes. Kinda awkward to do. That's why a liquid soap can be preferable for ALL washing requirements.

Another factor is concentration. Products like Campsuds are concentrated which means a few drops goes a long way. On a short trip that might not matter to you but if you had to carry/buy say 10 bars of soap along the way vs. carry one little bottle for the entire time, concentration becomes important.

No problem with a personal referral at all by the way. I carry a 2oz. bottle of Campsuds in my toilet kit. It will last me up to 3 months of travel time. That's for body, hair and laundry. If you use the citronella version it even keeps mosquitoes away. http://www.rei.com/product/654041/ca...itronella-4-oz

Thanks to all of you, some great ideas. I know I have room in suitcase for separate botles but it would be so much easier to have just 1 bottle. My husband and I usually take our own toiletries, so one bottle sounds perfect, especialy since we will be on the move constantly. I think I will get a botle of campsuds and try it before I go. Thanks again!

Now there is a sensible response. For $4 you try it and see for yourself if it works.

Remember it's concentrated so you don't need much. Also, don't get bent out of shape by foam vs. cleaning. That's a fallacy some shampoo makers love to advertise as if it makes their shampoo better.
http://www.self.com/flash/beauty-blo...w-about-washi/

Yeah, good idea to try first. I would bring some extra strength conditioner if you go that route.

I can usually get by by using a clear shampoo on most things although haven't done the dishes with that!

Only if you need a conditioner mlgb. I've never used one in my life. Again, a lot of advertising hype with little basis in fact.

http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/...r-your-ha.html

http://www.nicehair.org/hair-care-ad...-for-your-hair

I'm pretty sure a lot of females with a full head of hair would disagree.

Now there is a sensible response.

Indeed. Its a matter of choice and preference. I seodom use a conditioner by my wife does all the time and she is gorgeous. :).