Why did frederick douglass spend three days washing in the creek before he left for baltimore

Frederick Douglass spend three days washing in the creek because Mrs. Lucretia told him to do it.

Explanation:

Douglass said that being so worried about his appearance was not his thing. If it were for him, he would not have spent so much time washing, but Mrs. Lucretia told him that “he musts get all the dead skin off his feet and knees before he could go to Baltimore” since the people there were very clean and they would laugh if they saw him dirty.

he is suggesting that this widow is a strong woman, who is giving constructive criticism and she has enough to worry about, and she takes care of him, so he does not take it to heart.