Sponging; How Green Can You Go?

I had bought a nice pair of black jeans. I wore them a few times, then washed them. They are now grey. I don't want grey jeans. These are grey jeans.

These jeans promptly went from black to faded black after the first visit to the the washing machine. They became charcoal grey after the second visit.

They are getting greyer after each washing.

I suspect if they don't fall apart, by the sixth washing they will be so pale they'll look like dirty white.

I need a pair of black jeans. I need jeans to stay black.

Hence, I can't wash them.

I was reading an old book where the maid was 'sponging' the heroine's gown.

It wasn't the first I had read the term 'sponging' . Considering the delicacy of fabrics, the harsh manner of washing by hand in those days, the only way to clean a silk gown or velvet jacket was by sponging.

I considered it and decided to try it.

I don't do a lot to get dirty so took my black jeans to sponge. I have worn them four times and do not want to wash them.

I hang them up and taking a dry sponge and moving quickly up and down and back and forth sort of dust them and remove the air pollution.

I turn them inside out and using a damp sponge, moving carefully, focusing on any blemish, i repeat the process. I go down the legs and across the back and front.

They are now a bit damp. I note certain areas which seem a bit more soiled and focus on them, taking my damp sponge and gently rubbing. When complete, I hang them in shade with various attractive fragrances. When dry, I put them on. They seemed okay.

I decide to wear them another three times before the next sponging. Although they haven't been washed, as the term is used, I know from experience, such process doesn't just remove dirt, it removes the dye and they will fade.

This sponging makes the jeans seem clean enough and maintains the color.

Having tried the process on my jeans I extend my spongey target.

There are a few fancy blouses, a couple of suede jackets ones which get the sponge attack. Just as with the jeans, I use a dry sponge to dust, a damp one to remove any grime.

There are other things which seem dusty that will get the dry sponge.

It's the jeans, though I'm most concerned with. I don't know if or when I'll wash these jeans. If they standup by themselves or develop a very unpleasant odor, I suppose I will have to wash them.

I know I can never dare the washing machine which is misnamed. It is really a clothes cannibalizer which often barfs lint.

Don't bother with the 'gentle' or 'cold water settings'. These are only offered so that the Washing Machine can have a good laugh when you think you're going to get out an item that isn't torn to bits, covered in lint and a few shades lighter, unless it was originally while, then it's grey.

However, so far I have gotten about 15 unwashed wears. Better for the jeans, and considering the conservation of energy, better for the planet.

Washing our clothes causes massive water wastage. Yeah, if we washed in rain water, or the soapy remnants of our bath, then we wouldn't be wasting water. But we are wasting water.

Let us take hand washing.

We fill the container with clean water, and soak the garment. There's the soak, which wets the garment and takes off some of the dirt, then is tossed down the hole.

Then there's the second filling of the container with soapy water where we soak the clothes and then scrub them. When that water gets dirty, we dump it, get another container of water, and continue to wash until it's time to rinse.

So down goes the last sudsy water, up comes the clean water, and the rinse. Maybe two containers are needed and, of course, the water is discarded.

Now, with my sponging? Not even an ounce of water is wasted.

Sponging is a good Green idea and worth a try.