Allow me to disagree:). That was design to contain the soap that way..but it is a design flaw..since the soap covers the holes not allowing the water to drain so well.. But its also possible that the holes were made just to warm up the soap..not to drain the water..i'm still checking on that..because usually, in "old" days the soap was keep in the scuttle till the end - my grandfather when shaving with soap did that (now his only doing with shaving cream). The brush was left a side, like the picture shows. You can always put the brush above before making the lather..with the hot water in it.. just to "warm up" the brush with the vapor!