Verve: 20-Second Soap

Handwashing is something that we do every day without giving it a second thought, but during a global pandemic it could also be the one thing that saves our lives – if it’s done correctly. Research has shown that only 5% of us are actually washing our hands for the 20 seconds that it takes to get them fully clean. To help actively change behaviour and create awareness about the importance of handwashing, our team at Verve invented a unique product; the first bar of soap that lasts for exactly20 seconds. The 20 Second Soap helped to train people how to wash their hands correctly and was distributed from an online store for free as a tangible way to teach people new habits, with hundreds of little soaps making their way across the country. After this phase, we then decided to put the power into the people’s hands; literally. We are now in the process of teaching people how to make their own 20 Second Soap bars, starting awhole ‘clean hand movement’. The plucky little designs of our mini soaps also help to put a smile on people’s faces at a time when smiles are needed. Proof that big messages can come in small packages.