​Would You Like Some Luffa With Your Loofah?

rOkay, some of you may be wondering what in the world is loofah / luffa?  It’s not a loaf of bread.  It’s not a new Mediterranean diet dish everyone is going crazy over either.  It’s certainly not a word that combines love + sofa = luffa, although L-Z-Boy should create a luffa chase… [L-Z-Boy, if you’d like to collaborate, have your people call our people]. ​

---

So, what the heck is it?  Loofah or luffa is that dry mesh like sponge substance you may have seen in your girlfriend’s bathroom and/or at a spa lounge.  We’ll come back to it’s use (mostly scrubbing) in a second, but let’s tackle why it’s called a loofah / luffa?  According to Wikipedia, it’s a genus of tropical and subtropical vines in the cucumber family.  When the fruit is fully ripened it is very fibrous.  The fully developed, then dried fruit / vegetable is the source of loofah / luffa.  It usually requires around 150 to 200 days to dry the fruit / vegetable.  You then, simply peel the skin.  Then abracadabra – you now have this magical scrubbing sponge for your grooming needs…  Essentially the scrubber is meant to exfoliate and lather suds around your body making it ever so soft. ​

A few tips – This all natural scrubber is biodegradable and is such a wonderful grooming product.  BUT, it is also a perfect home for the bacteria…. If not taken care of properly after each grooming use.  Here’s why.  Your loofah / luffa scrubs dead skin cells off of your body.  Likely, when you’re done scrubbing, most of you would leave it sitting in your bathtub or shower until next time.  Unfortunately, this is also the opportune moment for bacteria to party on your “love sofa”. 

So here’s what you should do in order to minimize your luffa from becoming the “love sofa” for the bacteria:

1. Let it dry – after each use (scrubbing), make sure you thoroughly rinse with warm soapy water.  Next, try to shake or squeeze out as much water as possible.  Then try to place it on a dry place (perhaps by the bathroom window) to completely dry until next use. 
2. Microwave it – did you know that you can microwave your naturally harvested loofah / luffa (but not the plastic mesh kind – which is usually coated with anti-microbial layer).  You can basically zap any bacteria, thereby eliminating it from ever cultivating it on the “love sofa”.
3. Replace it often – hey, if you ever decide to grow and harvest your own luffa, be sure to save a few to last you a whole year.  Then simply replace it regularly, while properly maintaining it between each use. 

There you have it ladies and gents.  You now know what loofah / luffa is, how to make one, and maintain its healthy use. 
​
by ManPossible