Cracking bleeding hand skin

[Owlie]

It'll last forever if you use it in the shower, too, as long as you get over the obsession with suds. Real soap doesn't foam very much, but you still don't need to use very much of it. I think a gallon of Dr. Bronner's lasts us five years, and that's shower and sinkside both.

I've also heard of people using it for hand-washing hand-knit wool things. It's a pity I can't find it here.
Edit: How well does it work in hard water? We've got super-hard water here.