Have I mentioned before how much I love white linens and things? Well, I do. Many people will argue that white shows dirt too readily, to which I say: I prefer dirt I can see.
That said, when it comes to dirt and small people, I might be in over my head. We bought a white loveseat for the kitchen last summer, and I’m still making peace with the fact that it’s just going to look kinda grubby a lot of the time. Yes, it has a slipcover, but I can’t I’m not gonna wash it every week. Or even every month. (Or even just the two times since we brought it home. *Ahem*) I mean, kids live here – they make a certain amount of mess, and life just can’t be pristine.
When it comes to the bathroom, however, I do like thing to at least appear tidy. It’s the only bathroom in the house (unless you count the powder room in the basement we almost never use) and I try to keep a pair of hand towels hanging on the bar all the time. White ones. I italicize the word white, because they used to be so.
With the kind of dirt the summer brings, like mud and general dustiness that sticks to every inch of skin slathered with sunscreen, the less-than-stellar hand-washing practices are leaving my towels looking downright disgusting a mere twenty minutes after putting fresh ones out. It’s ridiculous.
Would you want to dry your hands or face on that towel? Nast. (I mean, really.)
Me: Ava Scarlett? I want to watch you wash your hands.
She: Okay.
She steps on the stool, turns the water on, turns the cake of soap over in her hands twice, rubs her fingertips together, and starts rinsing.
Me: Heeeeey, now kid?! Wait a minute…
She: *giggling*
Me: You have to wash the backs of your hand too, baby. You see? And your fingernails are black from all that mud… you have to do a better job. You should sing Happy Birthday to yourself, did you know that? That’s when you know it’s been long enough.
She: Like this? *tries again, humming*
Me: Muuuuuch better.
She halfway rinses again leaving half the suds still on her hands, quickly grabs the towel, and pats her palms on it twice, and then turns her hands to run them down the linen from top to bottom. She leaves a streak of brownish wet down the back. I try not to hyperventilate.
Me: Now, you see? This is why our towels look so filthy all the time, lady… dirt is supposed to go DOWN the drain, and the towel is just for drying them once they’re clean, okay?
She: *nods solemnly* Well, maybe we should just get some towels that are brown like mud, so it won’t show so much. *cocks head* Is that a brilliant idea?
Me: *le sighs*
So. There you have it. I suppose the child has a point… I can’t keep up with this kind of laundry anyway, what with both kids and lots of little friends using our washroom so often these days. *shudders*
What colour towels do you have in your bathroom? Are they grungy, grotty, and gross like mine?!
*whines* But, I don’t wanna have to give up the white ones… I love them so. And I wish I had more sace for such hoarding… really, I do. Le sigh.
I gave up on white towels. But I think I secretly am a towel hoarder. I love them! Think I need intervention.
I like you, Jen.
Yes, I think I just need more of them (storage is at a premium though) and maybe if I only put out one at a time, I can put them to the laundry every night. Or something. These muddy streaks are just killing me!
I love the monogram too… I picked up a pair at Sinners two Christmases ago, but they’ve definitely had their day – avoiding the types with that “contrast banding” on them tend to wear better – full terry from hem to hem stay cleaner for longer.
You should totally monogram for everyone in your family! I might, if we had more than one bathroom…
I have white…but I have A LOT of them, and rotate with increasing frequency. I love your monogram, and am thinking maybe each person in the family should have their own; let the kids (L,C,R) wallow in their filth while I keep my personal “J” towel white and pristine!
Seriously, I don’t even know WHAT they eat/do/wipe, but it’s getting bad around here. Balls.
i have white towels that are now pink…from popsicles or something – not sure – they won’t clean!