Ready? This has been a nagging thought in my mind for years! Today, if you all allow, I’m getting it out for all the world to see. ( And to strongly agree or disagree!)
Towels.
Most all of us use them. (And if you don’t please leave a comment as to how you dry off when done showering. No comments allowed from those 7 year old boys who don’t shower)
Ok, my personal vexation.
We wash our towels, dry off and throw them into the laundry. Why, you may ask does that bother me? Please… hear me out.
Lets start at the beginning. You and I are frugal shoppers, so we get our paper, pour through it, clip the coupons, scour the web, find the deals, spend our time shopping, bringing in the super savers on shampoo, conditioner, body wash, facial cleansers, and mens body wash, in every size, shape, fragrance, and color. We get them home, restock the shower and wait.
Then begins step 2.
15 year old child comes home from school ( or hubby comes home from work, or you or I decided it’s time to enjoy a shower.)
We step into the shower and enjoy the soothing feel of warm water pouring down our backs. After relaxing there while this cleansing water refreshes us, we begin. Shampoo; onto our hair and we scrub until not a single piece of that pollen that is floating in the air could be found – down the drain, and now it is gone. Next, Conditioner. The fresh smell of melon and cucumber calms our sometimes frazzled brain and every follicle of hair is engulfed with this ‘healing’ cream. While that works, we begin with some facial cleanser, lathering it, messaging it in a circular motion ( clockwise, of course!) rejuvenating our all important ‘first impression’. From there, we use a clean, 100% Egyptian Cotton washcloth, and this time, the super buy body wash, cleansing from head to toe. Once well lathered, we rinse out the cloth, hang it over the top of the shower glass, and begin the rinse. If one were to pay attention to the water going down the drain, the first glance would be filled with the bubbles – any child’s dream! Next would be just a few bubbles on the edges of the stream of fresh water, until finally, nothing but pure, clean water, flowing into our water system. A few more minutes of refreshment before we turn it all off and are ready to face the world again.
We reach for the matching, monogrammed 100% Egyptian Cotton Towel ( or in my case… my favorite towel that we’ve had for 15 years.. well worn, soft, and friendly) and begin the drying process.
And now comes my big question! At WHAT point does the dirt collect? We’ve just scrubbed, rinsed, rescrubbed, rerinsed. Now we dry off with a fresh, clean towel. It takes all of 30 seconds to dry off and suddenly * BAM!* This towel is D I R T Y! Into the laundry it goes without another thought! Someone, Please, Answer me! WHERE did the dirt come from??
In our house it is my rule that those towels get hung on a hook to dry. (Each of us has our place to hang them, we actually have a sauna with a row of hooks for each member of the family.) When the next time comes to have a shower, they are ready to go. . and after at least a few showers, THEN they go in the wash.
I know, I know… I am treading on thin ice here… but I also am taking liberties since this is a blog on saving money. I encourage you to try to reuse your towels at least once! ( they CAN be used many times..) It saves energy, ( not only from the power bill, but mom energy, which, I believe needs to be conserved as much as possible… there are no hydro electric plants that help to refill those batteries!) water, soap and again more energy if you dry them all in the dryer.
Great advice! I must insert here, that the MamaCheaps fam most definitely reuses their towels! We use them for up to a week before trading in for fresh ones!
Carrie blogs over at Prime on a Dime! Be sure to stop by her site for more great tips!
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