What’s the best salt water body soap

[01kiwijohn]

we use Joy.

[achil]

Originally Posted by macrae

We have tried different types of body wash soaps and found some to be high in perfume and some that are like oil.
Would like to get opinions on what is the best “off the shelf” soap for washing in salt water.

Whatever shampoo you use should be good.

[Mike OReilly]

We’ve been using stuff called Camp Suds. I’ve been using it for years, partly b/c it claims to be more eco-friendly. Seems to lather up well in salt.

[Sea Q]

My company makes allot of soap about a 1/2 million liters a month
and shampoo (not as much)
Just happens I have a bottle of Davis Aqua lather on my desk
I considered making it till i talked to my distributor and he told me sales were very low .
Aqua Lather contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate alot of dish soap also contain it too
This chemical is a foam enhancer doesn't work as well as a grease cutter but it sure makes foam.
Dish detergents are grease cutters and will defat the skin.
But are probably the most functional to use in Salt water at a lower concentration to get clean. Replenish the hair with conditioner and body lotion (suntan lotion works).Most regular shampoos are made not to strip all oils out and usually contain moisturizers

[budm303]

Originally Posted by Maka

Dawn has worked for us.

Concur. DAWN does everything (I'm not a P&G investor.) Ingredients: water, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laurethsulfate, c12-14-16 dimethyl amine oxide, SD alcohol, sodium chloride,PPG-26, pei-14 PEG-10/PPG-7 copolymer, cyclohexanediamine,phenoxyethanol, magnesium chloride, methylisothiazolinone, fragrance,yellow 5, blue 1.

[lolly08]

Look into Vita Bath. I've used it for 30 years. Joy - Dawn will dry out your skin, feeding wrinkles down the line. A drop goes a long way.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by moseriw

the cheapest soap you can buy in the drugstore. Nowadays all are applicable.

Or whatever you can actually get locally...you wont be able to find home country brands in remote cruising destinations. We mostly use whatever shampoo.

I have found Dawn in Panama, but I buy it for engine room cleaning...great grease cutter.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Since others have brought up ingredients, including Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, here is a quote from the Dr. Bronner's FAQ on their site.
_____________

"Do your soaps contain any foaming agents or detergents like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?

Absolutely not. Dr. Bronner’s soaps are 100% true pure-castile soaps. The high-foaming lather comes from their high coconut oil content, which creates a more luxurious and richer lather than any detergent could ever produce. “Pure-Castile” is your guarantee that what you’re using is a genuinely ecological and simple soap – not a complex blend of detergents with a higher environmental impact due to the waste stream created during manufacturing and the detergents’ slower biodegradability. Unfortunately, many synthetic detergent blends are deceptively labeled as “Liquid Soap” even though they contain no real soap whatsoever.

We do have one product, Sal Suds, which contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Coco-Betaine, and Lauryl Glucoside. Sal Suds is an all-purpose household cleaning product, and is not intended for use on the body. Cruelty-free and biodegradable, It is a balanced formulation of naturally derived surfactants that are mild and gentle on the hands."

The FAQ is here

https://www.drbronner.com/faqs/

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Steadman Uhlich

... The high-foaming lather comes from their high coconut oil content, which creates a more luxurious and richer lather than any detergent could ever produce. ...

Coconut oil can be used to make a very nice soap which does foam well (though Ive never tried it in salt water). However, it is very effective and can dry your skin, best if blended with other oils.

[Telesail]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

We’ve been using stuff called Camp Suds. I’ve been using it for years, partly b/c it claims to be more eco-friendly. Seems to lather up well in salt.

That bottle reminds me of Wilderness Wash from Sea to Summit, sold by REI. It certainly works in salt water (very small quantities needed). We use the version with Citronella and it helps keep the bitey things off....

[Rough Magic]

Prell liquid shampoo. Great stuff, lathers in salt water, doesn't completely strip the oils from one's skin. Tried and true to Mexico and back.

[Suijin]

Dr. Bronner's!

I've been a Dr. Bronner's user for almost 40 years as shower soap and shampoo It's the ultimate boat soap because it has so versatile. First, as a liquid, it's great as a "portable" soap because you don't need to deal with a gooey wet bar. It comes in sizes large and small; I keep a small bottle of it in my bath bag and just refill it from a big bottle as necessary. It smells nice, rinses clean. It just works.

Funny story; few years back I noticed another boater who has using it to wash their boat. Mentioned that I showered with it and they were clearly horrified at the thought. A few days later they came back and said they tried it and loved it, and could not believe they'd been cleaning their boat with it but not themselves for quite a few years.

[RickG]

We use Dr. Bronners Tea Tree Oil castille soap. I put it in a 2 oz travel squirt bottle and just use a bit as I go. It rinses well. My lady does not use it on her hair as she found it to leave her hair a bit oily. Not a problem with my short hair.

Cheers, RickG

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Telesail

That bottle reminds me of Wilderness Wash from Sea to Summit, sold by REI. It certainly works in salt water (very small quantities needed). We use the version with Citronella and it helps keep the bitey things off....

Yes, I think it’s the same stuff. I usually get mine from Canada’s answer to REI: MEC.

[Quadrille in JB]

We’ve used cheap fruit scented hair shampoo for years. Cleans well, lathers up, and leaves you smelling good enough to eat.