>at first I thought it was a bidet towel
Now you scared to death many many Fodorites in just one sentence

We use dishwashers here, Siemens or Constructa, they get the job done. No manual intervention needed. ;-)

We're not a third world country and we have dishwashers too. But MOST people know what it is to actually wash a few dishes by hand. Those are the people I was asking. And I wouldn't be surprised if many people who don't use washcloths on themselves actually rinse dishes using a dishmop or cloth or sponge BEFORE even putting them in the dishwasher. The whole point was -- you can't get things very clean by just using your hand -- a little abrasion from a cloth or sponge does wonder in getting things cleaner -- including the human body.

I use a brush for dishwashing. That sort of thing does not exactly feel pleasant on naked skin.

As for washcloths, I would not want to have a moist and soon smelly thing in my luggage. I was taught to use them as a child but have abandoned them long ago.
In the shower, bare hands with shower gel work just as well as a washcloth. No slipping piece of soap either.

I had exactly the very same question as asked by the OP, but I disn't ever dare to ask.

"I use a brush for dishwashing. That sort of thing does not exactly feel pleasant on naked skin."

Huh? I think you just proved my point. If your hand and some soap work pefectly well on your skin, why do you bother with a brush on your dishes? Why not just your hand? Because as you know, the brush -- a little abrasion -- gets them cleaner. It is the same with your body, and no one says you have to use the same brush -- that's why WASHCLOTHS were invented. They do the same job yet feel good on the skin.
And I will take issue that you are removing as much bacteria, dead skin cells, and other matter with your bare hands and gel as you would be if you were even lightly "scrubbing" your skin with a washcloth and soap or gel.
It just isn't so.

A smelly thing in your suitcase? You're washing it out with soap and rinsing it when you are finished. What could be cleaner? If I'm departing that morning, I slip one into a little baggy in my luggage and take it out at the next stop. Why would it be smelly unless you left a wet one packed in your luggage for a few days?

OK now, Not everyone from the U.S. uses a washcloth. Some people just use soap & their hands. Like me.

It get mentioned because 'washcloth' size pieces of terry cloth are not routinely provided at every hotel in Europe.

I have never understood the big fuss myself.

I don't like to pack a damp washcloth, either, so I buy them on sale or at the "Dollar Store" so they can be tossed. If I'm carrying one of those puffy scrubbers, it goes in a baggie if it hasn't dried out from hanging on the doorknob or somewhere.

I use a washcloth/facecloth/flannel. I suppose it's just what we were taught as children. It's invigorating, and helps the circulation.I usually buy a bundle of 12 really cheap ones for a few dollars at Target, or a similar store and keep them on-hand. When I travel, I take 3-4 with me, and just trash them every few days.

And while it looks like I'm making a "big fuss", my only goal here was to help some understand WHY someome might WANT to use a washcloth. Some posters seem to indicate the whole idea seemed silly to them. My goal was not to convince everyone they SHOULD use one. We all know there are cultural differences and people have different personal preferences. Some people would NEVER wash their hair every day. Others MUST wash theirs every day. Some people don't feel really clean unless they've SCRUBBED away all the bacteria and dead skin cells. Others use a loofah to nearly scrub their skin off every day and don't feel good unless they do. Others feel perfectly content simply rinsing off with some soap or gel and water. Whatever you're comfortable with.

I won't make fun of you for not scrubbing yourself really clean, if you won't make fun of me for doing so.

NeoPatrick:

I'm an American, wash my dishes by hand and don't use a washcloth in the shower.

For dishes I use a sponge with an abrasive "scrubby" side. The sponge gets rinsed out thoroughly with the dish soap and micro-waved frequently to kill off bacteria. I don't feel it's gross to use/reuse a sponge on dishes while I am disgusted by a reused washcloth - the main difference being that there is not generally pubic hair, sloughed-off skin, and fecal matter on my dishes.

More on the "Washcloth Conspiracy":
http://tinyurl.com/2cf4en
;-)

By the way, this is my first somewhat non-travel related post - am I becoming addicted to Fodor's?

littlejane, it's the same thing that in France you have shaped like a mitt
made of terry cloth

I found a dinner sized paper napkin with more like cloth quality. It does not rip or tear when wet. In fact, cut in half it is more than an adequate size for bath or shower use.
I take those along and toss them after one use as I dislike using something more than once to wash my body.
Of course, most of our trips are for two weeks or less. I wouldn't want to fill up a suitcase with paper.

But..if the reason to use it is to remove the bacteria, the dead skin cells..why is it sooooooo fluffy ???
My mom uses a "guante de crin" (I really don't know how to translate it..it would be something like an esparto glove) twice a week. And I use a sponge, but not a very soft one.

Without a wash cloth, how does one get his/her back clean? I don't take washcloths to Europe when traveling so my back only gets soapsuds and a rinse the whole time. I can hardly wait to get home and get a good back scrub.

I use a rinse-off cleanser to take my makeup off at night. I can't imagine that a cotton pad would rinse the cleanser off my face. I never mastered the art of bending and splashing to finish the job. I get more water in my hair and on the floor than I do on my face.

"But..if the reason to use it is to remove the bacteria, the dead skin cells..why is it sooooooo fluffy ???"

Too much fabric softener? I've never seen a facecloth/washcloth that was fluffy when wet. Towels or cloths that have a lot of fabric softener added when being washed are very fluffy but that is about it to my knowledge.

I didn't know , vipbloveitaly..I just saw them at the hotel and thought they were fluffy towels...

Along the line of buying washcloths at the Dollar Store and throwing them away--I saw a travel hint in a magazine that works quite well. Cut up an old towel (I have many) washcloth size, and throw them away as you go. I do it, as we rarely seem to get washcloths when we travel outside the US.

Using fabric softener to finish a wash cycle for towels does make the fluffier(is that a word?) but it also limits their absorbtion.