Zimbabweans Launder U.S. Money ... With Soap!
The washing machine cycle takes about 45 minutes - and George Washington comes out much cleaner in the Zimbabwe-style laundering of dirty money.
Low-denomination U.S. bank notes change hands until they fall apart here in Africa, and the bills are routinely carried in underwear and shoes through crime-ridden slums.
Some have become almost too smelly to handle, so Zimbabweans have taken to putting their $1 bills through the spin cycle and hanging them up to dry with clothes pins alongside sheets and items of clothing.
It's the best solution - apart from rubber gloves or disinfectant wipes - in a continent where the U.S. dollar has long been the currency of choice, and where the lifespan of a dollar far exceeds what the U.S. Federal Reserve intends.
Zimbabwe's coalition government officially declared the U.S. dollar legal tender last year to eradicate world record inflation of billions of percent in the local Zimbabwe dollar as the economy collapsed.
The U.S. Federal Reserve destroys about 7,000 tons of worn-out money every year. It says the average $1 bill circulates in the United States for about 20 months - nowhere near its African life span of many years.
Larger denominations coming in through banks and formal import and export trade are less soiled.
But among Africa's poor, the $1, $2, $5 and $10 bills are the most sought after. Dirty $1 bills can remain in circulation at rural markets, bus parks and beer halls almost indefinitely, or at least until they finally disintegrate.
Still, banks and most businesses in Zimbabwe do not accept torn, Scotch-taped, scorched, defaced, exceptionally dirty or otherwise damaged U.S. notes.
Zimbabweans say the U.S. notes do best with gentle hand-washing in warm water. But at a laundry and dry cleaner in eastern Harare, a machine cycle does little harm either to the cotton-weave type of paper. Locals say chemical "dry cleaning" is not recommended - it fades the color of the famed greenback.
Laundry worker Alex Mupondi said customers asked him to try machine-washing a selection of bills and the result impressed him.
But storekeeper Jackie Dube hasn't yet taken up advice of friends to cleanse the often damp and stinking U.S. dollars she receives for the garments and cheap Chinese consumer goods she sells in Harare. It's time-consuming, she says, adding that stinky, unhygienic bills are a problem.
"I get rid of the worst of the notes as soon as I can in change," she said.
By Associated Press Writer Angus Shaw
© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Low-denomination U.S. bank notes change hands until they fall apart here in Africa, and the bills are routinely carried in underwear and shoes through crime-ridden slums.
Some have become almost too smelly to handle, so Zimbabweans have taken to putting their $1 bills through the spin cycle and hanging them up to dry with clothes pins alongside sheets and items of clothing.
It's the best solution - apart from rubber gloves or disinfectant wipes - in a continent where the U.S. dollar has long been the currency of choice, and where the lifespan of a dollar far exceeds what the U.S. Federal Reserve intends.
Zimbabwe's coalition government officially declared the U.S. dollar legal tender last year to eradicate world record inflation of billions of percent in the local Zimbabwe dollar as the economy collapsed.
The U.S. Federal Reserve destroys about 7,000 tons of worn-out money every year. It says the average $1 bill circulates in the United States for about 20 months - nowhere near its African life span of many years.
Larger denominations coming in through banks and formal import and export trade are less soiled.
But among Africa's poor, the $1, $2, $5 and $10 bills are the most sought after. Dirty $1 bills can remain in circulation at rural markets, bus parks and beer halls almost indefinitely, or at least until they finally disintegrate.
Still, banks and most businesses in Zimbabwe do not accept torn, Scotch-taped, scorched, defaced, exceptionally dirty or otherwise damaged U.S. notes.
Zimbabweans say the U.S. notes do best with gentle hand-washing in warm water. But at a laundry and dry cleaner in eastern Harare, a machine cycle does little harm either to the cotton-weave type of paper. Locals say chemical "dry cleaning" is not recommended - it fades the color of the famed greenback.
Laundry worker Alex Mupondi said customers asked him to try machine-washing a selection of bills and the result impressed him.
But storekeeper Jackie Dube hasn't yet taken up advice of friends to cleanse the often damp and stinking U.S. dollars she receives for the garments and cheap Chinese consumer goods she sells in Harare. It's time-consuming, she says, adding that stinky, unhygienic bills are a problem.
"I get rid of the worst of the notes as soon as I can in change," she said.
By Associated Press Writer Angus Shaw
Popular on CBSNews.com
- S. Korea: N. Korea launches short-range missiles
- U.K. police announce new leads in missing girl case
- Photos of the Week 21 Photos
- Drone technology myths, facts and future feats
- Plane catches fire on Moscow runway Play Video
- Plane catches fire landing in Moscow
- Russia strikes back after expelling alleged U.S. spy
- Dramatic video appears to show 747 crash in Afghanistan
Washing USA dollar brings more attention and laughs than the suffrage of Zimbabwean people. Zimbabwe needs immediate intervention from the world at large before the situation is in total chaos. At present the US dollar is helping to cushion the economic hardship this forgotten country has found its self in. The innocent children are growing up in abject poverty with no access to health, education and shelter while the USA and the world laugh at George Washington coming out clean in the Washing machine. The economic situation is debilitating hour by hour, day by day and year by year while the world enjoys the World Cup in neighboring South Africa and while Afghanistan takes all the world attention. As a Zimbabwean living abroad it pains my heart and soul to read such articles highlighting a problem with no solution. My Question is Does the USA Federal Reserve Bank know about this situation and what are they going to do when their property is being used in such way. To President Obama, USA citizenry and the world at large what is the solution to this cancer seriously affecting the people of Zimbabwe? The present world will be judged by the way it has treated such problems facing humanity. The Government of National Unit GNU has done nothing but perpetuate and prolong the suffrage of the Zimbabwean people while the top official line their pockets. To crown it all Zimbabwean situation is rapidly degenerating into Ethiopia 80s while the world Laughs.
Washing USA dollar brings more attention and laughs than the suffrage of Zimbabwean people. Zimbabwe needs immediate intervention from the world at large before the situation is in total chaos. At present the US dollar is helping to cushion the economic hardship this forgotten country has found its self in. The innocent children are growing up in abject poverty with no access to health, education and shelter while the USA and the world laugh at George Washington coming out clean in the Washing machine. The economic situation is debilitating hour by hour, day by day year by year while the world enjoys the World Cup in neighboring South Africa and while Afghanistan is takes all the world attention. As a Zimbabwean living abroad it pains my heart and soul to read such articles highlighting a problem with no solution. My Question is Does the USA Federal Reserve Bank know about this situation and what are they going to do when their property is being used in such way. To President Obama, USA citizenry and the world at large what is the solution to this cancer serious affecting the people of Zimbabwe? The present world will be judged by the way it has treated such problems facing humanity. The Government of National Unit GNU has done nothing but perpetuate and prolong the suffrage of the Zimbabwean people while the top official line their pockets. To crown it all Zimbabwean situation is rapidly degenerating into Ethiopia 80s while the world Laughs.