Packing everything into a single carry-on bag is the best way to travel. You don't have to pay for a checked bag, deal with long baggage claim wait times, or worry about lost luggage (every traveler's worst nightmare!). Plus, you're more likely to travel light, which is better for the environment since it reduces fuel consumption. But figuring out what you can and can't pack in a carry-on bag can be tricky, especially when it comes to your toiletries. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) limits the number of liquids you can take on a plane to a single, quart-sized bag of 3.4-ounce containers.
One way to avoid this potential headache is by replacing your liquid products with solid beauty bars, like body soap bars and shampoo bars. Small, compact and lightweight, these cleansing bars are the perfect travel companion for all your adventures. So, can you take a bar of soap on a plane and skip the hassle of liquids altogether? We checked the TSA rules, and here’s what they have to say.
Good news, bar-lovers: you’re allowed to bring soap bars on the plane. Because soap bars are considered solids, they aren’t subject to the same rules as liquid items. In other words, you can pack your favorite soap bar without worrying about a TSA agent throwing it away at the checkpoint.
But why stop at a single bar of soap? If you want to sail through security, consider replacing other liquid items in your toiletry bag with solid bars. Here are a few simple swaps you can make before your next flight:
Travel Easier with a Shampoo Bar
Bonus traveling tip: Consider packing a solid bar of laundry soap in your carry-on bag. You can use it to wash your clothes after reaching your destination, helping you pack light without sacrificing style or comfort. (It works great as a spot treatment, too!)
Packing solid bars is an excellent way to speed through security while cutting down on unnecessary plastic waste. However, if you’re not careful, your bar can make a mess in your toiletry bag.
Here are our best suggestions for traveling mess-free with your bars:
Otherwise, the bar may get mushy or become soft inside your bag. Before you leave, we recommend placing it in a cool place to dry. You can also hang it up to dry in our travel-friendly sisal soap saver bag, which triples as a gentle body exfoliator and a savior for your leftover soap slivers.
There are so many better options out there than single-use plastic. If you’re worried about your bars making a mess in your toiletry bag, consider wrapping them in a reusable beeswax wrap. You could also store your bar in an aluminum tin (which is 100 percent recyclable with metal recycling), a washcloth or a pouch designed to hold soap bars, or use a reusable silicone bag.
This will make the bar easier to travel with and extend the lifespan of the larger bar. Consider cutting a bit of soap off with a knife or using a vegetable peeler to create individual soap slivers for each wash.
Whether you're constantly traveling or someone who enjoys the occasional getaway, traveling with solid bars can make your travel experience so much better. You'll get through security lines faster and travel lighter, all while doing your part to reduce plastic waste (goodbye, plastic bottles). And, since solid bars last longer and are more concentrated than their liquid counterparts, you'll save money to boot!
Ready to make the switch to solids? Head to our plastic-free shop and check out our entire collection of low-waste, TSA-friendly bars. We hope you love them as much as we do!
