# "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:** 6
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/101 "2017-11-07T02:57:56Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > (And what _is_ the difference?) The washcloth is the smaller, squarish one; and the hand towel is the bigger, rectangular one. At least around our house. (I think I got that right. My instinct is always to assume the hand towel is the smaller one, but it’s not.) ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/102 "2017-11-07T06:52:36Z")
White. Washcloth every time. Single use. I really don’t worry about the soap being dirty. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/103 "2017-11-07T07:24:48Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I take baths more than showers, What??? You mean you let all that water that touches one part of your body touch another part of your body? I can’t believe you haven’t died of leprosy by now!! > [@DSeid](#): > > _If_ there is a racial difference does it have to do with “ash”? Does washing with a washcloth help to better exfoliate and avoid it? Without having to go all loofah? It probably has to do with families where the practice was handed down, originally in communities where running water wasn’t as readily available. (My mother made me use one, but I later realized it wasn’t necessary.) The only thing you can do with a washcloth that you can’t do with your hand is absorb water and . . . save soap. > [@BigT](#): > > So you don’t waste as much soap. You’re just going to use more soap to wash the washcloths. It takes less soap to wash your hands than it does to wash a washcloth. And since when has soap been expensive, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/104 "2017-11-07T15:08:34Z")
Prior to the 19th century soap was a luxury in many places. In pre-revolutionary France it was taxed as a luxury item. It wasn’t always cheap. It is, however, cheap in the present world, at least in developed nations. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/105 "2017-11-07T15:27:18Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Prior to the 19th century soap was a luxury in many places. . .It is, however, cheap in the present world, at least in developed nations. My point exactly. Sent from my LG-H990 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/106 "2017-11-07T18:34:38Z")
I haven’t used soap/body wash/washcloth/what have you for as long as I can remember. The suds from my shampoo/my hand are sufficient for me. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/107 "2017-11-10T15:38:07Z")
After reading this the first time 13 years ago I got so confused I stopped showering. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/108 "2017-11-10T23:50:09Z")
Well, Redd Foxx said it best, “you gotta wash your ass.” You can look it up on Youtube; I’m not providing a link… ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/109 "2017-11-11T12:14:59Z")
I have no idea how other people bathe. How WOULD I know? And how does any comedian know how different ethnic groups shower? ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/110 "2017-11-11T15:17:51Z")
I’m a white guy and I use one of those poofy scrubber things made out of some kind of netting material. Good friction, if I bear down I can exfoliate like a bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/111 "2017-11-11T19:20:55Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I have no idea how other people bathe. How WOULD I know? > > And how does any comedian know how different ethnic groups shower? Easy enough: ask. You can find people who’ll talk about things a lot more intimate than this! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/112 "2017-11-11T20:22:51Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Easy enough: ask. You can find people who’ll talk about things a lot more intimate than this! “Excuse me, Senor- when Mexicans shower, do you use washcloths? And do you wash your butt and weenie before your face?” I dunno, I don’t see that conversation going well. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/113 "2017-11-12T02:34:22Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > “Excuse me, Senor- when Mexicans shower, do you use washcloths? And do you wash your butt and weenie before your face?” > > I dunno, I don’t see that conversation going well. I may be able to find this one out, I’ll check back in about a week after I see some friends. Anyhow I’m white, I mostly just use the bar of soap for normal cleaning, and use a combination of fresh wash cloth (rough ones) and soap if I am really dirty, or once a week (exfoliating purposes), whichever comes first. I use the spray shower head to “pre-wash” if you will, then I wash my hair first (shampoo) then use the bar soap starting at my face and working down to my feet, I clean the private areas before the feet since, well dirty water is falling on your feet anyhow. Spray down the shower after I rinse off. Clean me, clean shower. I leave the used wash cloth (squeezed out) in the shower until the next shower (to let it dry out before putting it in wash/no mold). I can’t see how someone can reuse a wash cloth, you can get a big cheapo pack of them at most department stores. If you reuse it, thats gross, its going to be a germ farm, but thats not even what bothers me, just thinking of all the bodily “crumbs” on it is nasty enough. For that matter, I’ll only [maybe] reuse a towel to dry my hands or something. As for toothpaste, I wet the brush beforehand. After I am done using it, I run it under scalding hot water and shake it out. Stereotype half busted. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/114 "2017-11-12T04:44:14Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > I may be able to find this one out, I’ll check back in about a week after I see some friends. Yep, this is my new conversation piece at work - minus the butt and weenie part. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/115 "2017-11-12T04:49:38Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > After 13 years, I’m pretty sure this thread is washed up. After 13 years, that washcloth is so grungy it’ll probably crawl out of the shower unless you wedge the door closed. ---
**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 13, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/116 "2017-11-13T18:44:37Z")
> [@Avarie537](#): > > White girl checking in here. > > I use my washcloth at night to wash my face (only). I use the same one for 2-3 days. In the shower, I almost never use a washcloth. I’ll use a fluffy scrubby thing for my body if I’m using body wash. I usually just use my hands and soap. The Girly Bits are washed thusly: lather up both hands really really well. Use one for the “front” and the other for the “back.” Voila! All clean, and no nasties being put back on the bar. Yeah, but then where do you hang your hands to dry and sanitize afterwards? And, what do you use for opposing digits while they’re drying? 😃 Me, I’ve used a [very very coarse dish washcloth I bought in the Korean supermarket](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/South-Korea-imported-multi-purpose-kitchen-cloths-dishcloth-3-loaded-scouring-dishwashing-cloth-dish-towel/32612693230.html) in about 1995. Seriously. I bought a pack of 3. They’re rough enough to do dishes with. Nothing gets caught, so no matter what part of my corpus I am scrubbing, the cloth rinses quite cleanly before I move on to the next part of my corpus. They’re pretty coarse and so one upside is that they remove all dead skin as I scrub. ALL over. Distinctly different than using a cotton washcloth found in the hotel, etc. I think the 3-pack was about $ 7.99. Now and then I think to soak them in hot water with bleach, but that’s perhaps… once a year? They smell new, retain no soap or body scum. They rinse out 100%. Kinda awesome actually. > [@Ukelele Ike](#): > > I’m white, and I wash myself exclusively with Ass Germs. See- this is why I’m afraid to venture into Brooklyn. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/117 "2017-11-13T21:23:06Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > YMe, I’ve used a [very very coarse dish washcloth I bought in the Korean supermarket](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/South-Korea-imported-multi-purpose-kitchen-cloths-dishcloth-3-loaded-scouring-dishwashing-cloth-dish-towel/32612693230.html) in about 1995. Seriously. I bought a pack of 3. They’re rough enough to do dishes with. Nothing gets caught, so no matter what part of my corpus I am scrubbing, the cloth rinses quite cleanly before I move on to the next part of my corpus. I use exfoliating gloves which may be of a material similar to these, and shower gel/body wash. This way I can get into all the nook and crannies “down there” and it rinses off. My face I was with bare hands and whatever facial scrub/wash I have on hand (no pun intended!). > **[Amazon.com: 4 Pairs Body Exfoliating Gloves for Shower, Bath Scrub Wash Mitt for...](https://www.amazon.com/Pair-Exfoliating-Gloves-Scrubbing-Exfoliator/dp/B06XP5F23J)** > > Buy 4 Pairs Body Exfoliating Gloves for Shower, Bath Scrub Wash Mitt for Women, Men, Spa, Massage (Pink, Purple, Blue, Beige): Bathing Accessories - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases But I was taught to use a washcloth and bar soap for all over, and never told to put it in the laundry every use. I think rinsing it thoroughly is sufficient. ---
**Author:** ![Grumbacher\_Red](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Grumbacher\_Red](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumbacher_Red)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/118 "2017-11-14T03:31:18Z")
A 2004 thread? Oh well, here goes. White woman here. And I use a wash cloth, starting with my face. First you wash as far down as possible. Then you wash as far up as possible. Then you wash possible. I also use scrubby gloves which I rinse well and hang up to dry between bathing, because really…those things never touch possible. Wash cloths get hung up to dry before being put in the hamper so they don’t mildew and sour. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/119 "2017-11-14T12:06:53Z")
As a lifetime greasy truck mechanic I always used a wash cloth, after the wash cloth I went back over everything with a clean bar of soap. Always rinsed wash cloth until soap free and hung to dry. Guilty of not changing wash cloth as often as I should. Once week when doing laundry. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838/120 "2017-11-14T12:57:36Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > But I was taught to use a washcloth and bar soap for all over, and never told to put it in the laundry every use. I think rinsing it thoroughly is sufficient. For most people that probably is sufficient, but I lived in a household with a diabetic, who was more prone to infections that non-diabetics, and I myself have had some epic skin problems (famously documented in a couple threads around here). For people with those conditions a little extra caution is a good thing. Buying a lot of washclothes, using only once, and sanitizing with bleach in the laundry did help both of us, but as I said, we’re at higher risk than average. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-people-dont-use-washcloths/271838.md?page=7)