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Do you use a loofah in the shower or bath? When I used liquid body wash, I was a faithful subscriber to a loofah. I think it was a marketing scheme that I fell prey to in high school. You know, one of those commercials with all the bubbles and the person who was so relaxed with soft skin after her shower. The thing is that what most people think of as a loofah is actually a nylon body pouf (aka plastic). Natural loofahs are derived from dried plants. Both natural loofahs and plastic body poufs are petri dishes for bacteria when combined with dead skin cells stuck in all the nooks and crannies. When I used one, I would hang it on the shower handle to air dry, but it would never quite dry completely and typically within a few weeks it would start to get a mildew smell. That’s how I knew it was time to replace. Does this sound familiar? Cleveland Clinic recommends to clean your pouf by soaking it in a bleach solution for 5 minutes once a week and then tossing after 3-4 weeks of use. If you follow the recommendations, you will trash at least 14-17 per year. I think it is time to change things up!
Today’s challenge: Use your body pouf or loofah until it is ready to be replaced, then switch to a regular washcloth. Combined with bar soap a washcloth actually does a wonderful job to get your body clean and exfoliated and is probably something you already have on hand. If you would rather have something that you can grasp easier with that bar soap you are trying out, look into purchasing one of these soap socks. Both washcloths and soap socks can be laundered regularly and used for years.
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