# Do you use a shower/bath pouf? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 31, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432 "2015-03-31T17:32:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/1 "2015-03-31T17:32:41Z")
You know those substitutes for a wash cloth, a [shower pouf](https://www.google.com/search?q=shower+pouf&biw=1256&bih=872&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=CNgaVb-sOdKtogTfjoLgBA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&dpr=1). They are normally made out of layers of mesh shaped into a ball and include a small rope on the end to hang it up in your shower. I think I’ve seen them around for nearly 2 decades now. I have used one regularly for the past 15 years or so. They cost anywhere from a $1 to $5 depending upon how fancy and how large you want to get. My wife usually replaces the ones in our shower about every month or so. I think they are much better for getting the suds going and ultimately your body clean. So do you use a pouf? Or are you a rag loyalist? Poll to follow. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/2 "2015-03-31T17:38:41Z")
I use the pouf for everything but the delicate bits - my face and down there get washcloth treatments. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/3 "2015-03-31T17:42:21Z")
Cotton rag loyalist, never felt right rubbing my body with plastic mesh. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/4 "2015-03-31T17:56:44Z")
I don’t use anything. I just lather the soap and use my hands to rub it on. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/5 "2015-03-31T18:02:36Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > I don’t use anything. I just lather the soap and use my hands to rub it on. This. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/6 "2015-03-31T18:06:12Z")
I would be your basic comprehensive washer. I use the poof to lather up and the washcloth to thoroughly rinse (it always seems to be so hard to rinse all the soap off the poof and I don’t want to exit the shower with a layer of soap still on me). ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/7 "2015-03-31T18:11:53Z")
Only if they’re cheap - eventually one doesn’t find its way back to the hook and the dogs kill it. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/8 "2015-03-31T18:45:06Z")
I do. I used to just use my hands (and still do on delicate bits). Never been a fan of washcloths, as they seem to just absorb all the soap instead of spreading it around. I get nice suds/lather with a shower pouf. I know that isn’t actually necessary for a good washing, it’s psychologically pleasing. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/9 "2015-03-31T18:46:59Z")
Hands only. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/10 "2015-03-31T19:25:38Z")
I don’t feel truly clean unless I exfoliate. A nice, scrubby shower pouf is much more refreshing than just wiping shower gel or soap on myself with my hands. ---
**Author:** ![Fallen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@Fallen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fallen)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/11 "2015-03-31T19:31:50Z")
I use Japanese nylon washcloths, which come in varying strengths, from not so exfoliating to something akin to sandpaper. The “pouf” things aren’t very effective for actually cleaning (not much better than “rag”), and the Japanese nylon wash cloth more hygienic than the loofahs. (You can also effectively clean the back, since the suckers are a couple of feet long.) Salux is the go-to brand, though there are others. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/12 "2015-03-31T19:33:42Z")
I voted “yes” because there wasn’t an “occasionally” option. I have no use for washcloths, and usually just use my hands, but occasionally I’ll use a pouf to scrub my skin a bit more harshly to exfoliate. Now all the Dopers are picturing each other in the shower. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/13 "2015-03-31T19:55:22Z")
Stats are pretty much in line with my expectations: majority of women use them, while a majority of men do not. Do men consider them to be an effeminate bathroom item? ---
**Author:** ![Fallen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@Fallen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fallen)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/14 "2015-03-31T19:55:58Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Now all the Dopers are picturing each other in the shower. 🙂 Uhm, no. Must be a guy thing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/15 "2015-03-31T20:02:03Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Stats are pretty much in line with my expectations: majority of women use them, while a majority of men do not. > > Do men consider them to be an effeminate bathroom item? Hmm, right now (7 mins later) it’s 10 women say yes, 9 women say no. Your definition of “majority” is interesting 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/16 "2015-03-31T20:05:07Z")
you can get a good scrubbing glove for the less sensitive parts. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/17 "2015-03-31T20:14:04Z")
Yes but only occasionally do I use an assist though. Mostly I’m a hand guy. Sometimes, like winter dry skin time, it’s nice to get a little extra scrub with my soap. > [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Stats are pretty much in line with my expectations: majority of women use them, while a majority of men do not. > > Do men consider them to be an effeminate bathroom item? You lumped all the hand only people in with those that use an assist of some sort. It’s hard to tell if they don’t like them or just don’t use anything as an assist. I’d suspect men tend towards the can’t be bothered to use anything group. Calling it a poof that isn’t high on appealing to a rugged manly man self image though. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/18 "2015-03-31T20:30:35Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Your definition of “majority” is interesting 🙂 Not my definition. The common one: more than half. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/19 "2015-03-31T21:13:00Z")
I tried one for a while, but stopped when I read an article saying they weren’t good, because they could introduce bacteria into the deeper layers of the skin. Back to cheap fabric washcloths. (I do mean cheap. I buy “bar rag” cloth towelettes.) ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432/20 "2015-03-31T21:20:38Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Stats are pretty much in line with my expectations: majority of women use them, while a majority of men do not. > > Do men consider them to be an effeminate bathroom item? Just unnecessary. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-shower-bath-pouf/716432.md?page=2)