# "White people don't use washcloths." **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 29, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838 "2004-10-29T13:16:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/21 "2004-10-29T16:11:11Z")
> [@t-keela](#): > > yeah…right…I’d rather be doing those things than any other things…heh 😃 > > you funny…I been a freak for years. > > I’m also not worrying too much about catching something offa my own bar of soap neither. 😉 I kinda figured. It seemed a little too anal for someone called “t-keela”! ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/22 "2004-10-29T16:18:04Z")
you know that jacuzzi I was talking about is made for two people so I guess I could do both with a little help. You know the ass washing/face sittin thing… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/23 "2004-10-29T16:19:27Z")
> [@Elenia28](#): > > I kinda figured. It seemed a little too anal for someone called “t-keela”! Interesting… choice of words… ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/24 "2004-10-29T16:25:49Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > I just hire a black person to wash my ass. I’d like to point out now that lemon-ade REALLY smarts when it comes out your nose. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/25 "2004-10-29T16:27:11Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > The soap is, by definition, CLEAN, yes? > > Much less chance of any… shall we say… “particulate matter” clinging to the surface of the bar than the ridges in the washcloth, yes? > > Add in the noticeability factor of umm… matter… on soap as opposed to a washcloth, add in the fact that the washcloth sits, warm and damp and germ-filled for 24 hours before its next use, not to mention the ease of lathering up to lose the top layer of soap and anything… umm… clinging… thereto, and I think Whitey walks away from this battle with the advantage. What do you mean “germ-filled”. Do you know what a wash-cloth is used for? To wash! That means during its entire use its covered in soap. It washes itself as you use it. And obviously, people give it a final soap wash at the end of the shower. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/26 "2004-10-29T16:29:11Z")
> [@pizzabrat](#): > > What do you mean “germ-filled”. Do you know what a wash-cloth is used for? To wash! That means during its entire use its covered in soap. It washes itself as you use it. And obviously, people give it a final soap wash at the end of the shower. With this reasoning, it wouldn’t be necessary to wash a wash-cloth in the laundry at all. Nor would it be necessary to replace dish-sponges. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/27 "2004-10-29T16:30:46Z")
I use Dettol liquid wash stuff that I just squirt into the palm of my hand. On my facew I use nothing mostly, I just scrub it with a wet washcloth, which I use for nothing else. Once every few months I may feel the urge to use a face scrub of some description. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/28 "2004-10-29T16:53:17Z")
**OP** : > [@](#): > > don’t know if I really want to know how other people use their wash cloths; but what do you think of the gag? Nope, don’t use those things either. And if I did I’d rinse it first ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/29 "2004-10-29T17:03:13Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > With this reasoning, it wouldn’t be necessary to wash a wash-cloth in the laundry at all. Nor would it be necessary to replace dish-sponges. You may want to launder wash-cloths for peace-of-mind, but they don’t really compare to dish-sponges. Sponges are made of a completely different, much more fragile material, they don’t wash out as easily and even despite dirt, they have to be replaced due to wear. ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/30 "2004-10-29T17:12:56Z")
Some of Dave Chappelle’s routines are funny, but most of the time I feel like I just don’t “get it.” This routine included. And no, I’m not sharing how I use the washcloth. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/31 "2004-10-29T18:05:12Z")
Isn’t anybody here concerned that there seems to be somebody watching and taking notes about what others do in the shower? Where do people with massaging shower heads point the stream? Inquiring minds want to know. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/32 "2004-10-29T18:30:35Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > Interesting… choice of words… _bangs head_ Nope, still don’t get it. What makes this interesting? (honestly, no sarcasm) ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/33 "2004-10-29T18:37:46Z")
> [@Elenia28](#): > > _bangs head_ Nope, still don’t get it. What makes this interesting? (honestly, no sarcasm) you said _anal_? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/34 "2004-10-29T19:08:22Z")
Wash cloths give a bit more scrubbing power so when I am feeling particularly dirty, I use one. Otherwise, I just use the bar of soap directly to my skin. I guess I perepetuate the stereotype. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/35 "2004-10-29T19:08:28Z")
Wash cloths give a bit more scrubbing power so when I am feeling particularly dirty, I use one. Otherwise, I just use the bar of soap directly to my skin. I guess I perpetuate the stereotype. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/36 "2004-10-29T19:21:14Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > you said _anal_? :smack: Forgive me, it’s Friday afternoon. Unbelievable. I just whooshed myself. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/37 "2004-10-29T19:25:08Z")
White guy here. The gag is lame. Not because it’s at anybody’s expense—it’s just not funny. Now, as far as washing goes: I have one bar of soap for my hair. Castile soap, to be specific. Then I use three different cleansing soaps & scrubs for my face. I use a special antifungal soap for my armpits. Not because I have fungi, but because I had an uncle who died of a terminal arm-pit fungus and I’ve had a clinical phobia ever since. At his funeral it looked like he had a mushroom farm under each armpit. I have a bar of Lava soap for my back, arms, & legs. My privates I wash with Dove soap, and then apply a generous portion of Steve Martin’s Penis Beauty Cream. My rear I wash with Phisoderm and then inevitably fart and have to wash it again. I use a separate wash cloth for each step, except my back for which I use a brush. Finally, because the ammonia kills fungus, I just pee on my feet. ---
**Author:** ![violacrane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c57346/32.png) [@violacrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/violacrane)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/38 "2004-10-29T19:30:59Z")
White UK person here. When I use a flannel – wash cloth – I always wash it out straight afterwards then hang it somewhere to dry. In the bath though I use one of [these](http://lindseyskincaresupply.com/bodypuff.html). They’re made of nylon net, and soap, skin flakes and other crap rinse off them really easily, I became a total convert from the first time I used one. Urbanchic is this what you mean by a poof? Um we’d spell that pouffe here I think, even though _that_ means an upholstered stool cos over hear a poof is … something else. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/39 "2004-10-29T20:30:28Z")
NUTS!!! They make a good all-purpose napkin, snot and cum rag!! ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/40 "2004-10-29T20:32:26Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > NUTS!!! > > They make a good all-purpose napkin, snot and cum rag!! …and should you run out of toilet paper… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838.md?page=3)