Never discard dirty old clothes without washing them first, or you’ll have bad luck

Miguel: Hey, why are you carrying that sack like it’s a bomb?

Rosa: These are my old clothes. I’m throwing them away—but first, I need to wash them.

Miguel: Wash them? You’re discarding them anyway. That’s a waste of water.

Rosa: Ay, Miguel, you know the rule. Never discard dirty old clothes without washing them first, or you’ll have bad luck. My lola swore by it.

Miguel: Your lola also thought sitting on cold cement gives you kidney problems.

Rosa: And what if she was right? Last year, my cousin threw away his sweaty gym clothes without washing them. Two weeks later—boom—he lost his job.

Miguel: Or maybe he lost his job because he was always late, not because of angry unwashed shirts seeking revenge.

Rosa: Laugh all you want. In our barangay, everyone believes this. Dirty clothes carry bad energy. You throw them away like that, and the bad energy follows you.

Miguel: Scientifically speaking, dirty clothes carry bacteria and odor—not destiny. Washing them doesn’t change your probability of bad events happening.

Rosa: Science doesn’t explain everything. Traditions exist for a reason.

Miguel: True, but sometimes the reason is hygiene and respect. Washing clothes before discarding them might have been about cleanliness, not luck. Back then, people reused or donated clothes.

Rosa: Hmm. So you’re saying the “bad luck” part was just to scare people into being clean?

Miguel: Exactly. Like telling kids they’ll go blind if they sit too close to the TV.

Rosa: Still… I feel uneasy if I don’t wash them. What if something bad does happen?

Miguel: That’s confirmation bias. If nothing happens, you forget it. If something bad happens, you blame the clothes.

Rosa: You’re very confident for someone who hasn’t tested fate.

Miguel: Fine. Next time I throw away old clothes, I won’t wash them. If I suddenly trip, get fired, or my phone breaks, I’ll admit defeat.

Rosa: Deal. But if bad luck strikes, don’t come crying to me.

Miguel: And if nothing happens, you owe me a coffee.

Rosa: Make it two. Bad luck insurance isn’t cheap. 😄