Cleanliness is essential. "Cleanliness is next to godliness."

In India, especially in the villages, you'll find cleanliness. He has got one cloth, poverty-stricken, one cloth, not very white. Due to dirt, it is black. But that one cloth should be washed daily, still, one cloth. They'll take one napkin and wash the cloth, and India, tropical climate, here also, and spread it on the floor. Within five minutes it will be dry, and then change clothes. And early in the morning, even in chilly cold, they will take bath, taking water from the well. And nature's arrangement, if you take well water early in the morning it is very not very hot, but is warm. You can take very easily your bath. This is daily affair, taking bath and go early in the morning to evacuate, then wash your hand. Not required, soap. You can take the dirt from the earth and wash your hand nicely, then take your bath and change your cloth, washed cloth, then go to some temple.

Still this system is current. And see arati, mangala-arati. Chant Hare Krsna mantra. Ring the bells. In every temple such arrangement is there. Then come at home and do your duty, the businessman. In the shop also, they'll cleanse everything very nicely. Even the scale, weighing scale, they will wash every day. This is required, saucam.

(From Srila Prabhupada's lecture on Bhagavad-gita 16.7 — February 3, 1975, Honolulu)