A Dishcloth a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

It's time for another addition of 'It all adds up to me'. But before I go any further, I was asked by an inquiring mind, from the first addition, if they ever caught the masked man. The answer is no. They did not. And that didn't help my fearful mind at all. I knew he was still out there and would be coming to get me sooner or later. I was thrilled when we moved- 4 years later- knowing it would throw him off my trail!

And now without further interruption, I bring you, a daily habit of mine.

I must, must, must, change the dishcloth and hand towel in my kitchen every day. I cannot stand the thought of using a day old cloth to wipe my counters down or clean hands on. (I realize this is not the most riveting of topics, just bear with me.)

Looking back to think about where this one came from, on first thought, I would have to say that it came from my mother's example. She was a wonderful homemaker and kept a tidy home. However when I mentioned to her, a few years ago, that I change my dishcloths daily, she seemed a bit surprised. And that surprised me. Isn't that where I learned it from?

As I have given this more thought, I remember her sending me an article on the topic when I was first married and just starting on this whole housekeeping adventure. It was probably from the Reader's Digest or Good Housekeeping and it scared the bajeebers right out of me. It talked about all of the nasty germs that are picked by the cloth (OK the article was really referring to the use of sponges, but I felt it applied just as nicely to dishcloths) and then how it becomes this wonderful breeding ground for those little bacteria and viruses. It then went on to explain that when you use it again to wipe counters or wipe your sweet child's face off- you spread those invisible disease causing pestilences all over. I was completely mortified and immediately went out and bought 10 more dishtowels and hand towels to add to my already over flowing drawer, so that I would have enough to change them even more than once a day if need be.

I use bleach when I wash them- whether they colored or not, and wash them in the hottest water possible. "Kill, kill, kill!", I find myself chanting as they are being sloshed around in the washer. (Alright, I don't really do that, but I think it!)

And there you have it. No germs will be infecting my family and hopefully not yours either after reading this post. :)