Dirty dollars get a cleaning in Zimbabwe
Germaphobic consumers can take heart here in the United States, where dollar bill circulation is fairly short-lived — only about 20 months of wallet-hopping before the Federal Reserve pulls the plug , destroying on average about 7,000 tons of over-the-hill greenbacks each year. In Zimbabwe, however , where U.S bills are much preferred to the ...
Germaphobic consumers can take heart here in the United States, where dollar bill circulation is fairly short-lived -- only about 20 months of wallet-hopping before the Federal Reserve pulls the plug , destroying on average about 7,000 tons of over-the-hill greenbacks each year. In Zimbabwe, however , where U.S bills are much preferred to the country's own collapsed currency, a day in the life of a dollar is not quite so hygienic. If you're thumbing through a wad of cash in Harare, chances are you won't be able to appreciate the satisfying sound or unmistakable scent of crisp, fresh-from-the-ATM bills: most U.S. bank notes continue changing hands in Zimbabwe for years on end, only slipping out of circulation once they've truly gone to pieces (when Scotch tape can no longer work its magic).
Germaphobic consumers can take heart here in the United States, where dollar bill circulation is fairly short-lived — only about 20 months of wallet-hopping before the Federal Reserve pulls the plug , destroying on average about 7,000 tons of over-the-hill greenbacks each year. In Zimbabwe, however , where U.S bills are much preferred to the country’s own collapsed currency, a day in the life of a dollar is not quite so hygienic. If you’re thumbing through a wad of cash in Harare, chances are you won’t be able to appreciate the satisfying sound or unmistakable scent of crisp, fresh-from-the-ATM bills: most U.S. bank notes continue changing hands in Zimbabwe for years on end, only slipping out of circulation once they’ve truly gone to pieces (when Scotch tape can no longer work its magic).
The delicacy of these "well-seasoned" bills isn’t worst of Zimbabweans’ concerns: their dirtiness is an even bigger problem. Indeed, among the country’s poorest, underwear and shoes often serve as the most convenient "wallets." But Zimbabweans have found a simple way to combat the grime: they’ve started literally laundering their money. The most diligent cleaners recommend washing the flimsy bills by hand, then hanging them out to dry (bills are often pinned to clotheslines alongside more conventional linens). In a pinch, however, a time-saving machine wash will also do the trick. Experts do warn against giving bills high-class treatment: one trip to the drycleaner’s and George Washington’s face may well lose its authentic green pallor…
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