A method of reducing Gram positive bacteria on human skin which comprises: applying to the human skin an aqueous soap composition that includes: (a) from 0.2 to 25% by weight of fatty acid soap, (b) at least one silver(l) compound having a silver ion solubility in water at 25°C of at least 1 x 10 -4 mol/L, the aqueous soap composition having been prepared by diluting, as needed, a liquid cleansing formulation comprising: (i) from 5 to 65% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation of fatty acid soap, (i) 0.1 to 100 ppm by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation, of at least one silver compound having a silver ion solubility in water at 25°C of at least 1 x 10 -4 mol/L; and (iii) 20 to 90% by weight water, and having a pH of from 8 to 11, to said fatty acid content of 0.2 to 25wt%, allowing the aqueous soap composition to remain on the skin for a contact period of under 1 minute, and rinsing the aqueous soap composition from the skin, wherein component (b) is one or more silver compounds selected from one group consisting of silver oxide, silver nitrate, silver acetate, silver sulfate, silver benzoate, silver salicylate, silver carbonate, and silver citrate. applying to the human skin an aqueous soap composition that includes: (a) from 0.2 to 25% by weight of fatty acid soap, (b) at least one silver(l) compound having a silver ion solubility in water at 25°C of at least 1 x 10 -4 mol/L, the aqueous soap composition having been prepared by diluting, as needed, a liquid cleansing formulation comprising: (i) from 5 to 65% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation of fatty acid soap, (i) 0.1 to 100 ppm by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation, of at least one silver compound having a silver ion solubility in water at 25°C of at least 1 x 10 -4 mol/L; and (iii) 20 to 90% by weight water, and having a pH of from 8 to 11, to said fatty acid content of 0.2 to 25wt%, (a) from 0.2 to 25% by weight of fatty acid soap, (b) at least one silver(l) compound having a silver ion solubility in water at 25°C of at least 1 x 10 -4 mol/L, the aqueous soap composition having been prepared by diluting, as needed, a liquid cleansing formulation comprising: (i) from 5 to 65% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation of fatty acid soap, (i) 0.1 to 100 ppm by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation, of at least one silver compound having a silver ion solubility in water at 25°C of at least 1 x 10 -4 mol/L; and (iii) 20 to 90% by weight water, and having a pH of from 8 to 11, to said fatty acid content of 0.2 to 25wt%, (i) from 5 to 65% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation of fatty acid soap, (i) 0.1 to 100 ppm by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation, of at least one silver compound having a silver ion solubility in water at 25°C of at least 1 x 10 -4 mol/L; and (iii) 20 to 90% by weight water, and having a pH of from 8 to 11, allowing the aqueous soap composition to remain on the skin for a contact period of under 1 minute, and rinsing the aqueous soap composition from the skin, wherein component (b) is one or more silver compounds selected from one group consisting of silver oxide, silver nitrate, silver acetate, silver sulfate, silver benzoate, silver salicylate, silver carbonate, and silver citrate.