Just curious... what is a washcloth?

Old Aug 13th, 2007, 03:53 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just curious... what is a washcloth?

I have seen a lot of posts recently on the subject of "what should I bring on my trip to Europe" that elicit the response "a washcloth"!

Can anyone help this poor european out? What is a washcloth and why would you not be able to do without it for a week or two? Obviously I gather it's a cloth you wash yourself with... but it must be different from a facecloth, which is provided in every European hotel?

Thanks!

Jane
littlejane is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 03:58 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's a very small towel - about the size of a hankerchief - that Americans use to rub their bodies with to get clean.
alanRow is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:03 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks - that's more or less what I imagined the answer would be. I still can't figure out why not just use a facecloth to do the same thing while in Europe...
littlejane is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:06 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The terms "facecloth" and "washcloth" are often used interchangeably in the US.

"Americans" (as in the US)are not the only people who use these items.

Getting along without one can be a bit difficult for those of us who are used to using them in showers, baths, etc.

Not everyone in the US uses one but I suspect the majority of folks probably do.
Dukey is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:13 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,057
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Aashcloth is a flannel in UK speak - and hotels don't supply them over here. Apparently they do in the states.
audere_est_facere is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:14 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
littlejane:

Washcloth, facecloth or flannel are all the same thing. Think separated by a common language i.e. lift/elevator for example - you get the idea.

Many of the hotels and B&B's that I have stayed in did not provide a washcloth, facecloth or flannel.

Sandy
SandyBrit is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:16 AM
  #7  
J62
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,922
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It shows up on a "bring to Europe" list because in many parts of Europe, take Italy for example, hotels no NOT provide these. Nor do they at most of the hotels I've been to in Germany either.

Bath and hand towels, yes. Facecloths or washcloths, no.
J62 is online now  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:19 AM
  #8  
J62
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,922
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As for flannels, in the US that term is reserved for:

a) flannel pajamas
b) flannel sheets
or maybe sometimes
c) flannel shirts

J62 is online now  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:30 AM
  #9  
ira
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>As for flannels, in the US that term is reserved for:

woolen trousers
ira is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:31 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
To me, it's a face flannel: flannels on their own are flannel trousers, as for cricket.

But then, I'm old-fashioned.
PatrickLondon is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:34 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have to say the hotels I've stayed in in London all supplied them.
Dukey is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:37 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Maybe we can talk about the difference between a "pudding" and a dessert, too.
Dukey is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:37 AM
  #13  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for clarifying.

Sandy/J62 I've never noticed the absence of a facecloth in Italian or German hotels but that just goes to show how mucky I must be.

I'll make sure to bring my flannels with me next time. (incidentally is Flanner a person who uses flannels a lot? Doubtful but wouldn't it be nice...)
littlejane is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:38 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 578
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I just take a sponge with me (or a flannel). Prob. solved!
EnglishOne is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:40 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Flanner using flannels..as in trousers or facecloths?
Dukey is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 04:48 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

When living in Germany we bought washcloths sewn up as small pockets into which the soap fit. Use them with the soap inside and you never have the soap slip out of your hands.
hopscotch is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 05:02 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I must be a mucky pup too, but I wouldn't fancy using a cloth more than once especially for "possible". That's the bit that gets done last when you wash down as far as possible and up as far as possible ;-)
I would never use a flannel on my face and I suspect that most European women are like me and use disposable pads or cotton wool to clean their faces.
For the rest of me, I use soap.
Many good quality British soaps actually have one side slightly concave, so that the soap is easier to grip.
MissPrism is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 05:12 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
MissPrism,

Please understand that for some of us it has absolutely nothing to do with gripping the soap and everything to do with how the washcloth feels on the skin.

I suppose washing "down there" (are we talking about the front of "down there" the back of "down there" or both????) with your bare hands isn't much different than using a nice "stimulating" cloth but to each their own in the shower/bath I guess.
Dukey is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 05:36 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I saw "a washcloth" for the first time in my life at the Hilton Metropole in London two weeks ago Oh, well, at first I thought it was a bidet towel..till I began to think logical and thought that was not possible because there was no bidet.
kenderina is offline  
Old Aug 13th, 2007, 05:52 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm curious about those who really don't understand the idea of using a cloth to wash themselves in the bath or shower.

Have those people ever washed dishes? Do they just use their hand, or do they use a sponge or cloth? Just like dishes, if you only used your hand on your skin, you wouldn't be doing nearly as good a job of removing whatever needs to be removed.
NeoPatrick is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -