It may be time to brush up on your history a bit. There's no need to fret though since we're sure that with a little more care and attention you'll be able to get much better results on your next attempt.
Zap a wet one in the microwave for 2 minutes every day and replace it every 2 weeks. Better yet, use cloths, towels, and rags that you can toss in the washer or clean with bleach.