Soap. It’s a wonderfully low-tech solution in a high tech world. I’m appreciating soap anew.

First of all, there’s the way it smells. Lavender. Lemon verbena. Geranium. Just the clean smell of a pure soap like Ivory makes me feel better. Liquid, bars, or even powdered, I like them all. Anything washed in soap and water suddenly feels healthful, bright, and somehow virtuous.

I’m glad to have chemical wipes like Clorox and Purell when I can get them, but my hands pay for it. I’m increasingly using more soap and fewer chemicals.

Soap is effective against coronavirus on your hands, your produce, packaging, and all kinds of surfaces. All my produce goes into a soapy water dunk and then is rinsed. I imagine I’m washing away a lot of pesticides too. My kale has a new gleam.

Thank you, soap makers! You are my front line!