Author Topic: This is *not* communal soap  (Read 3138 times)

oogyda

Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #15 on: January 04, 2020, 08:20:40 pm »
When I was in charge of ordering supplies for the workplace, I thought it was ridiculous that one of the well paid executives asked for an expensive pen.  I asked the VP who I answered to about it and she agreed with me, but explained that the executive has arthritis and "needed" the special pen and in order for workplace to be ADA compliant we had to provide him with a pen he could use since we provided pens to all employees. He got one pen a year and refills in between.

All that to suggest you make a request for your workplace to provide soap that you can use. 
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pierrotlunaire0

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Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #16 on: January 05, 2020, 01:45:52 pm »
When I was in charge of ordering supplies for the workplace, I thought it was ridiculous that one of the well paid executives asked for an expensive pen.  I asked the VP who I answered to about it and she agreed with me, but explained that the executive has arthritis and "needed" the special pen and in order for workplace to be ADA compliant we had to provide him with a pen he could use since we provided pens to all employees. He got one pen a year and refills in between.

All that to suggest you make a request for your workplace to provide soap that you can use.
Never thought about that. but that is a good idea. I also like Aleko's idea of decanting a small amount of soap into a medicine looking bottle.

But purchasing a (probably very cheap) soap that dries out everyones' hands to the point that someone is bleeding? That's ridiculous.
I have enough lithium in my medicine cabinet to power three cars across a sizeable desert.  Which makes me officially...Three Cars Crazy
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Girlie

Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #17 on: January 06, 2020, 01:01:02 pm »
Has anyone addressed the question to whoever orders supplies or to management? They can't fix what they don't know.

If they DO know and they are refusing to fix it, then I honestly don't think there's anything wrong with an honest, "I'd rather you didn't," or even just a "No." There is no need to JADE on the issue of soap. Everyone who doesn't like or can't use the new soap is just as capable of bringing their own as you are.
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DaDancingPsych

Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #18 on: January 06, 2020, 01:26:40 pm »
Not helpful: Let's bring back soap on a rope! Then it would be around your neck and only available for your use. (Sorry... this popped into my head as a silly solution.)
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AnnaT

Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #19 on: January 06, 2020, 05:08:41 pm »
Thoroughly wash out one of those little hand sanitiser bottles and decant your soap into that.  Those bottles are small enough to tuck into a pocket (or bra) for a trip to the bathroom and will easily fit into your purse otherwise (and then you have your soap with you wherever you go)...
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oogyda

Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #20 on: January 06, 2020, 07:24:07 pm »
There is a possibility that "management" isn't really to blame. 

OP, who cleans (and stocks) the bathrooms? Is there a cleaning service? Perhaps it's part of building maintenance.  Maybe they've changed the products they use.
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vintagegal

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Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #21 on: January 07, 2020, 06:52:51 am »
I've been in communal bathrooms where the hand soap smells just like the stuff they use to clean floors. Horrible.
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DaDancingPsych

Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #22 on: January 07, 2020, 11:03:23 am »
Thoroughly wash out one of those little hand sanitiser bottles and decant your soap into that.  Those bottles are small enough to tuck into a pocket (or bra) for a trip to the bathroom and will easily fit into your purse otherwise (and then you have your soap with you wherever you go)...

Ohhh... and some kinds have carrying cases that allow you to hook it to things. I am half joking when I say to put it on a lanyard to make soap on a rope... but actually, that might be a solution, too.

Here are the holders that I'm trying to describe.

https://www.bathandbodyworks.com/c/hand-soaps/pocketbac-sanitizer-holders

I have seen more generic holders if some of those are too wild for your workplace/style.
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Pandorica

Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #23 on: January 07, 2020, 05:10:25 pm »
Thoroughly wash out one of those little hand sanitiser bottles and decant your soap into that.  Those bottles are small enough to tuck into a pocket (or bra) for a trip to the bathroom and will easily fit into your purse otherwise (and then you have your soap with you wherever you go)...

Ohhh... and some kinds have carrying cases that allow you to hook it to things. I am half joking when I say to put it on a lanyard to make soap on a rope... but actually, that might be a solution, too.

Here are the holders that I'm trying to describe.

https://www.bathandbodyworks.com/c/hand-soaps/pocketbac-sanitizer-holders

I have seen more generic holders if some of those are too wild for your workplace/style.

I've seen them for tiny bottles of Purell in/near the travel toiletries section of stores.
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Luci

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Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #24 on: January 07, 2020, 06:15:55 pm »
Thoroughly wash out one of those little hand sanitiser bottles and decant your soap into that.  Those bottles are small enough to tuck into a pocket (or bra) for a trip to the bathroom and will easily fit into your purse otherwise (and then you have your soap with you wherever you go)...

Ohhh... and some kinds have carrying cases that allow you to hook it to things. I am half joking when I say to put it on a lanyard to make soap on a rope... but actually, that might be a solution, too.

Here are the holders that I'm trying to describe.

https://www.bathandbodyworks.com/c/hand-soaps/pocketbac-sanitizer-holders

I have seen more generic holders if some of those are too wild for your workplace/style.

I've seen them for tiny bottles of Purell in/near the travel toiletries section of stores.

But that's sanitizer, which s very harsh. I would put the soap in a sanitizer or other small bottle and just carry it in a lanyard or pocket.

Pandorica

Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #25 on: January 07, 2020, 06:59:41 pm »
Thoroughly wash out one of those little hand sanitiser bottles and decant your soap into that.  Those bottles are small enough to tuck into a pocket (or bra) for a trip to the bathroom and will easily fit into your purse otherwise (and then you have your soap with you wherever you go)...

Ohhh... and some kinds have carrying cases that allow you to hook it to things. I am half joking when I say to put it on a lanyard to make soap on a rope... but actually, that might be a solution, too.

Here are the holders that I'm trying to describe.

https://www.bathandbodyworks.com/c/hand-soaps/pocketbac-sanitizer-holders

I have seen more generic holders if some of those are too wild for your workplace/style.

I've seen them for tiny bottles of Purell in/near the travel toiletries section of stores.

But that's sanitizer, which s very harsh. I would put the soap in a sanitizer or other small bottle and just carry it in a lanyard or pocket.

Yes, that's what the PP was talking about -- emptying the Purell bottle and reusing it because it has a holder
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Rose Red

Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #26 on: March 08, 2020, 09:12:00 am »
Any updates or solutions?

With what's going on now and potential shortages, I would no longer be sharing!
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Shores

Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #27 on: May 28, 2020, 12:52:45 pm »
It's a little bit aggravating, but maybe there's some wording that I can stick in my mind for being able to respond at the time that isn't too abrupt.

Background:  many years ago, I got a level of skin injury from cold that has left skin on my hand (basically over the knuckles--put on a pair of biking gloves and see where the openings are, that's the area in question) extremely sensitive to a lot of substances, so I have to be very cautious about what soap/moisturizer and so forth that I use to prevent reactions.  (Once, when my preferred moisturizer stopped being produced, I was looking for a new one while visiting my parents.  My mom brought out one that she used, to see if it would work.  I was within 3 feet of the bathroom, and put a very tiny (like the diameter of an ink pen) amount, and immediately the skin turned red and by the time I got it washed off in the bathroom sink I had a blister from the exposure!).  So when they changed soaps in the work bathroom, I tried the new soap while there was still some old soap (which I knew I could use) in the bathroom.  Immediately started to feel skin burning, washed again with the old soap, and still ended up with lots of tiny cracks and blood oozing up on my hands.   So, I now bring my own soap (basically, the same soap I use at home, I have bought an extra bottle that stays at my work desk and I carry it back and forth to the bathroom when I'm headed there).

So--no one else likes the new soap (everyone finds it really drying, but I'm the only one who starts oozing blood from it), but there's no good place to leave the soap in the stall so I leave it on the counter while I'm in the stall.  This has been months since the change in soap (I am now on the fourth fill of my soap bottle).  So -- what to say to people who cheerfully say "I'm so glad you were in the bathroom just now, so I could use your soap"?   >:(

“No, this is for a medical condition” then tell them where they can buy their own.  I despise cheap people, they can buy their own soap.
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ladameestmorte

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Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #28 on: March 08, 2021, 11:20:07 am »
Not helpful: Let's bring back soap on a rope! Then it would be around your neck and only available for your use. (Sorry... this popped into my head as a silly solution.)

You reminded me of my childhood; every single year my poor dad got a Brut soap-on-a rope from me.  I never saw it again after I gave it to him, but, every year he always acted like it was the best gift ever :)
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honeybee42

Re: This is *not* communal soap
« Reply #29 on: March 09, 2021, 08:09:08 am »
Since this got bumped back up--as an update, by late March last year we moved to work-from-home, which neatly solved the soap issue for me altogether (since I *only* buy soap of brands that I know won't eat my skin, and one of my safe brands (method) makes a full line of cleaning products including dish soap for those things that I need to handwash vs putting in the dishwasher). 

I have seen some of those TSA-approved new containers (for filling with whatever products one might want without having to dispose of product one doesn't want) at the store, so getting one of those for my soap and carrying in a pocket would be an option if they make us return to the office.  Personally, I am enjoying working from home and hope I never have to go back to the office for many reasons beyond the soap.
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