# do white people use washcloths? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320 "2005-11-10T01:06:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/101 "2005-11-12T01:45:53Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Don’t even get everyone started on the whole “which way do you stand in the shower” question. That usually ends in bloodshed. 😉 What, some people only stand one way in the shower? I rotate! It gets the spray on every side of me. I put the toilet paper with the unroll on the outside, furthest from the wall, of course. Makes it easier to grab. (I might reconsider this if there was a cat or small child in the house.) And I take my shoes off upon entering the house. Except that I’m a slob, so sometimes in dry weather I don’t. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/102 "2005-11-12T01:53:48Z")
lovely pallor here. i use them more like a towel than a wash thing. they are the right size for drying face or feet, or if caught in a downpour (easy to carry in a bag). perfect for water ride dry off at an amusement park. to cool off (very cold water, back of the neck) or help with headache or fever. or warm up hands or feet in winter (they do tend to cool off quickly). i don’t like the clingy wet feeling in the shower. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/103 "2005-11-12T01:56:41Z")
White. No washcloth. Can’t see any use for them. I’m willing to bet that there isn’t a bit of quantifiable difference in how clean you get. It’s just a time consuming extra step that can easily be eliminated. Using a washcloth in the shower is like eating french fries with a fork. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/104 "2005-11-12T01:59:05Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > What, some people only stand one way in the shower? I rotate! It gets the spray on every side of me.🙂 I have a carousel floor in my shower. You just hop in the shower, set the timer for 10 minutes and push ‘Start’. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/105 "2005-11-12T02:26:09Z")
I am. It’s really true. I’m so goddamned white that if you threw me into a roomful of bleached flour I’d disappear. I mean, we are talking whitebread white. -snerk- What a question. Yes, I use a washcloth and yet I am very very very almost certainly certain that I use it because I was taught by my atrociously white parents that the use of a washcloth facilitated in the removal of both exteriorly acquired dirt and the sloughing off of dead skin cells. It was presented to me in my formative years as a part of normal appropriate hygiene. Not sure if it’s racially motivated or not. Similarly, my white brother and some cousins use them as well. It may be of interest that my **other** cousins who are half-white and half-black also use them. At least in my home. Then again, maybe they were bowing to the intense unspoken racial pressures and in their own home, wouldn’t rub their bodies with a washcloth if their lives counted on it. Dunno. I can ask them the next time I talk to them. I dont’ just use a washcloth. I use a dishrag/washcloth sold only in Asian markets. It is without doubt the finest yet cheapest washcloth on the planet. It never frays, or wears away. It is very abrasive and feels amazing when I wash, because it makes my skin ( as previously mentioned, my appallingly white skin ) glimmer and shimmer and glow and stuff. I LIKE the way it makes me feel. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/106 "2005-11-12T02:48:25Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > White. No washcloth. Can’t see any use for them. I’m willing to bet that there isn’t a bit of quantifiable difference in how clean you get. It’s just a time consuming extra step that can easily be eliminated. Using a washcloth in the shower is like eating french fries with a fork. Yeah, but when they’re slathered with gravy or coney island sauce, you’re going to use your fingers? 🙂 When I don’t use a cloth, I feel oily afterwards, especially in the face. The friction the cloth provides rapidly and in great, vast areas is much, much more efficient than trying to use soap alone. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/107 "2005-11-12T08:47:13Z")
White here, and I always use a wash cloth in the shower. Rubbing a bar of soap, or my bare hands, on my body does not slough off dead cells like a cloth can, nor does it invigorate me like a cloth can. It just leaves a lot of hair on the bar of soap. You British and Aussies who refer to a “flannel” — is this literally made of flannel cloth? I’ve never seen a wash cloth made of flannel in the U.S. Virtually all bathroom towels here (and we have piles of them, so we get a fresh one every shower) are made of terry cloth. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/108 "2005-11-12T09:55:56Z")
Two data points: Me, white, no washcloth. Husband, black, washcloth. Hadn’t thought about it before, but now maybe I will. ---
**Author:** ![Sutremaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Sutremaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sutremaine)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/109 "2005-11-12T23:55:43Z")
White, British, no flannel. The feeling of cleanness I get from a shower is more dependant on the temperature of the water and the soap / gel used than what I use to spread the suds around. I’m also pretty fussy about deodorant ingredients, but that’s getting really off-topic so I’ll stop. To be honest, I’d rather use something more like the dishcloths I use at work (ie. something with texture). I’ve had hasty washes in the sink with a towel, and the feeling of the terry cloth is slightly unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/110 "2005-11-14T18:54:44Z")
After reading this thread, I purchased a 4 pack of washcloths. I tried one. It sucked. What do you do with the washcloth when you are pouring shampoo? Blech. Anyone in the market for 3 unused washcloths? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/111 "2005-11-14T21:37:42Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > What do you do with the washcloth when you are pouring shampoo? Blech. Uh, hang it on the ring or the wash cloth holder (like a short tower bar). You mean that not every bathroom has these? ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/112 "2005-11-14T23:21:09Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Uh, hang it on the ring or the wash cloth holder (like a short tower bar). You mean that not every bathroom has these? In the shower? I’ll have to check, but if there is one there I think I woulda figured out that I could hang the thing there. There _are_ shelves for soap/shampoo/ conditioner/whatever. Where do you washcloth users find the room? Do spouses share washcloths? ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/113 "2005-11-14T23:23:54Z")
**sigh** You wring out the used washcloth, so that it isn’t dripping wet, and you hang it on the towel bar if there’s not a separate washcloth hanger. When it’s dry, if you don’t want to re-use it, you put it where you put the other laundry. I imagine some spouses use each others’ washcloths and some don’t. But IMHO you can’t really get clean without one. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/114 "2005-11-14T23:25:28Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > Do spouses share washcloths? –Gag-- I’d guess not. I know not in my home. We all have our washcloths. Wife doesn’t use one. Kids do. I use my Uuber-Scratchy one. Where to hang it when shampooing? Over the water spout, of course. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/115 "2005-11-14T23:29:59Z")
No washcloth (unless I’m staying in a hotel or someone else’s home who offers them). Shower brush. Nylon bristles. Long handle. There are parts of my body that won’t be reached if I don’t… ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/116 "2005-11-15T09:02:02Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > Hair on the bar of soap grosses people out, so they use washcloths. Ah, the real reason. Wouldn’t have guessed it in a thousand years, like so many real reasons. And I’m speaking as one whose job it is to never give real reasons. Just what you can get away with. Which, given how lazy and dumb most people (especially journalists are) is a lot. Thanks for busting my ignorance. You’re going to straight on to my burgeoning buddy list. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/117 "2005-11-15T09:33:12Z")
When you are washing your hair, and if you don’t have a towel rack or hook in the shower, you can hang the wash cloth on the handle to the shower door, or the faucet or knobs of the bath tub, or on the edge of the bath tub. Now, I’ll ask again, since no one has answered: to those Brits, Irish, and Aussies who referred to a wash cloth as a “flannel” — are yours really made of flannel cloth? I’d be surprised if they are because the knap of flannel would be reduced to nothing fairly quickly if used to scrub. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/118 "2005-11-15T09:50:47Z")
I used to just drop it on the floor. It didn’t kill me. You spend all your time in the shower rubbing soap on the thing anyway. I can’t believe this thread has reached three pages. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/119 "2005-11-15T10:09:57Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > To those Brits, Irish, and Aussies who referred to a wash cloth as a “flannel” — are yours really made of flannel cloth? I’d be surprised if they are because the knap of flannel would be reduced to nothing fairly quickly if used to scrub. No idea. BUT, what I want to know is why you guys ‘scrub’ with anything but a scrubbing brush. Remember them? They left your skin raw. Washcloths/flannels are ‘rubbed’. Sheesh, 3 pages and all this baloney floating around. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320/120 "2005-11-15T10:40:18Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > what I want to know is why you guys ‘scrub’ with anything but a scrubbing brush. Remember them? They left your skin raw. Washcloths/flannels are ‘rubbed’. **scrub** Function: _verb_ _transitive senses_ 1 a (1) : to clean with hard rubbing : SCOUR (2) : to remove by scrubbing b : to subject to friction : RUB 2 : WASH 3 : CANCEL, ELIMINATE _intransitive senses_ 1 : to use hard rubbing in cleaning 2 : to prepare for surgery by scrubbing oneself [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-use-washcloths/330320.md?page=7)