Towels and Washcloths
 

OK, I know that this may give a bunch of you a good laugh and I know it isn't the most important question posted here, but I've done enough traveling around the world and have come across some swatches of fabric (I think that's what they were) hanging across towel bars in hotel rooms that never, even in their wildest dreams, should have been labeled "towels." I also know that hotels in many other countries, even if they have decent towels, don't provide wash cloths. (Are wash cloths are an American thing?) <BR> <BR>What about Italy? We'll be staying at 3 star hotels that have all received very favorable reviews on this board and elsewhere (Santa Chiara, etc.). What will the quality of the towels be like? Are they terry cloth towels or the kind that are more like linen? Would it be worth packing a towel to take with us and then leaving it there and use the extra room for bringing home souvenirs? Do they generally have wash cloths? Thanks in advance.

It is always a good idea to bring your own wash cloths. In most parts of the world the wash cloth -- or face flannel in the UK -- is a personal item. 4 & 5 star hotels do have them - but just because they have had years of Americans complaining about no washcloths. Some inns with VERY plush Egyptian cotton towels will not have wash cloths. <BR> <BR>As for what you will find - no telling. Some basic B&Bs have great towels while some 3 star hotels have rags.

Judy- <BR>Spent 4 weeks in Italy last year, staying in 3 star hotels. All had linen type towels and no wash cloths. It's your decision weather to take them with you or not, but I would not waste the room in my bag

Judy: <BR> <BR>I think it was last year ? maybe even longer? that there was a very lengthy discussion on this forum about the "no washcloth" issue. And if I recall, several of our European contributors provided explanation that this very American penchant for a wash cloth is not considered to be the height of cleanliness --- they just wash their faces with soap, water & hands. Or any other body parts, for that matter. <BR>I've managed to travel quite successfully and live without a wash cloth. <BR> <BR>Now as to the fabric quality of towels in general, yes, I'll agree with you --- it can be a far cry from the thick, plush cotton that you may be used to. Again, I just 'go with the flow' --- I always do bring one of those super absorbent towels with me, more so for wringing out any hand laundry than drying me off.

Yes, this is a very old, well-worn issue. Short version: washcloths -- a.k.a. face cloths or "flannels" -- are an American thing. Europeans cannot fathom why we need them and some are grossed out at the thought of using and reusing it. There are several sources of misunderstanding: <BR> <BR>1. Many Americans use the cloth only for their faces (hence "facecloth") at the sink, or perhaps in the shower. Europeans assume it's used all over the body, everywhere the soap would go. <BR> <BR>2. Many other Americans don't feel that just slathering soap and water really gets one clean -- that one must scrub with a cloth _in_ the water to get the dirt and dead skin off then, not wait for the scrubbing to happen when drying off with a towel. For many Americans, one should be clean before using the towel, and leaving dirt on the towel is a sign of poor hygiene. Some Europeans don't get that, but think that poor hygiene is using a "flannel" a second time without putting it through the wash. <BR> <BR>If you (like me) don't feel you can get your face clean without a cloth, there are several recommendations for traveling in Europe (and no, you probably won't find facecloths in Italy except perhaps in chains that cater to US travellers, and maybe not then). <BR>I carry two cloths in a Gladlock bag and use one until I can't get it clean or dry enough (with the hairblower) anymore, then I toss it. Some people pack several 40-cent cheapies at WalMart and discard them if they are still wet at check-out time. They are useful for cushioning bottles, etc. until you're through with them. <BR> <BR>My aunt, who is a bit bananas, bought a towel and used sequential corners of it, cutting notches with her nail scissors and tearing off the corner-square each time we changed locales. <BR> <BR>Others say they have purchased cloths once they got to their destination, but it could be a time-consuming adventure in cross-cultural communication. Others just ask for extra hand towels and use them. But remember, many European hotels now subscribe to the laudable practice of having you re-use your towels each day unless you insist on new ones (which you signal by leaving the towel on the floor). <BR> <BR>I adore my bathsheets at home, but I'm unwilling to give up that much room, so I try to cope with what's supplied. Many don't supply bathmats, either, which also bothers me, so I'm likely to use a towel for that. A big tip to whoever brings the extra towels is usually a great investment. <BR>

I like the wash "mitts" (essentially a washcloth you fit your hand into) they sell in France. I enjoy using them more than a washcloth and always buy one when I'm there.

Judy, <BR>This is not a stupid question! I have found none to many washcloths to be had in my European travels. As another poster indicated, sometimes the quality of the "regular" towels leaves a bit to be desired, but like almost everyone else, I refuse to allocate valuable space in my luggage for towels. <BR> <BR>I now use those Oil of Olay Daily Facials cloths that one wets, lathers up, uses & disposes of on my face. <BR> <BR>I bring a small loofah & a sponge for showers. Capo, I do believe they sell those mitts in America. Probably Drug Emporium and/or Bath & Body Works would carry them. <BR> <BR>BC

Thanks, BC...don't believe I've ever seen them in the U.S. before. (They also come in handy for playing baseball in the shower :~) <BR> <BR>The towels we had in our pensione in Rome a few months ago were flat, with no "loft" to them. Certainly not our first choice in body-drying fabric, but they got the job done. Worst towel I ever had was in the Hotel Petit Trianon in Paris; so threadbare it was almost transparent.

For those worried about the adequacy of towels: <BR> <BR>Carry your own super-absorbent towels. Still absorb when wet, typically you can wring out 90% of the water. They're available in many places. Julie likes one for drying her hair. <BR> <BR>A couple of representative sources: <BR> <BR>REI (the source we use) <BR>http://www.rei.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce...2&prmenbr=8000 <BR> <BR>Bruce Medical (Found at random using Google) <BR>http://www.brucemedical.com/bz1836.html <BR> <BR>twenj

Ed, <BR>Also Bed,bath & Beyond carries a similar (?--I think) towel, designed for swimmers. Folds up, is very compact, but as Capo may bemoan, doesn't appear to have "loft", but is absorbent nevertheless. I think mine ran about $14.95. Bought it as I swim laps everyday, but I opt not to bring it on vacation. Usually don't have a problem making do. <BR>BC

Thanks for all the responses. I've only been using this site for the last three months or so and it didn't even cross my mind to do a search on the issue. (I didn't think anybody besides me would care.) Also, I've never used them before but those super absorbent towels seem like a great idea. Thanks again.

I always go to wal-Mart or some place cheap and buy 3 or 4 wash cloths, I can't stand washing my face with my hands, and i think the cloth exfoliates your skin a little, Just throw them away after a few days. <BR> <BR>Even at home I don't like those ultra thick towels, living in Florida they never dry and really can't be used more than once as they never dry and even with AC going full blast smell sour before they dry! Never have had a problem in France or england with adequate towel supplies. ANd I adore those thin linen like towels in Italy,I think the fabric is called huck, they do the job and dry in a instant. I even bought some to bring home, them I found they really only look good when you iron them, When I retired so did my iron. At home I buy wonderful cotton towels from Portugal, they have a ribbed texture, feel great, dry rather more quickly and can be bleached to hell and gone and always look and feel terrific( and no ironing!)

I have always used a wash cloth in the shower and for my face, but have never heard of using it again without washing it. Do some people do that? If so, I can understand why Europeans might find it to be gross. So do I.

How about those net things shaped into a ball with a string that can be used as a "wash cloth"? Since they are made out of nylon "netting", there's no problem with the drying situation. They will take up VERY little room in your suitcase.

I'm with Elsa and Book Chick - I bring one of those little net things for the shower and the Oil of Olay or Biore daily facial cloths. <BR> <BR>As for towels - I've seen all kinds and try to just laugh at the ones that would only be big enough to dry off a toddler.

Those little net thingies are the best thing for washing off sunscreen or tanning oil! <BR>

Judy, the thing I find more perplexing than no washcloths is no shower curtain or door, though maybe that's not the case in Italy. Taking a shower in France was just a quick in and out for me before I flooded the whole bathroom. I like washcloths for my face, but can live without them. What I forgot to bring and really missed was my exfoliating scrubby-gloves. Those disposable facecloths sound like a good idea.

I have to agree with Book Chick. The Oil of Olay Daily Facial Cleansing Cloths are the way to go! Just bring a big stack of 'em in a ziploc bag or something and throw them away after each use. Takes up very little space. <BR> <BR>I just read an article saying that regular washcloths can harbor a lot of bacteria if not washed after a couple uses.

I should probably be ashamed to admit this, but I usually go ABOUT 1 week using the same wash cloth - unless it is really humid & the thing doesn't dry or if it's dirty after I've been working in the garden & then taken a shower. Maybe those bacteria don't like me b/c I'm into my 50's and have only been sick a handful of times in my life. Plus, I never put the washcloth in my mouth. :-)

I'm with Elsa. I don't get this wash it after every use thing either. It gets washed every weekend. If I'm lathering up with soap and rinsing it out after, where's all the bacteria coming from? Maybe it's different in humid locales where it would sit wet for a long time, but here in California it dries very quickly. I don't see how bacteria can be building up on the cloth or having a party on my face if I'm soaping up and rinsing off every time. Like Elsa, I don't break out and I don't get sick, going on now for 43 years. Doesn't seem to be a problem.

JOdy joins Joan and Elsa, Well I'm 62 and I probably use a washcloth for my face 3 or 4 days and I have never broken out or been infected. I did use the oil of Olay things for 2 days and broke out in hives, so I guess I'll stick with what works, washcloth and dove soap as recommended by my dermatoligist. Go with whatever works for you, but I can't believe anybody washes 7 cloths a week for their face or whatever. Rinse it out and dry , I do do towels that often in Fl but they never dry and get stinky!

We just returned from Italy and I really missed those washclothes! All of our hotels had the nice thick towels (one of our hotels was the Santa Chiara in Rome). A couple of the hotels had those really thin ones as well as thick ones. I thought maybe those thin ones had something to do with that bidet (sp?) By the way - whaat's with that? My husband & I always laugh and wonder exactly how you're suppose to use the thing! Ha Ha

We just returned from Italy and nope, no wash cloths. I'm used to that now and always bring a cheapie one with me so that if I forget it, I won't care. <BR>When I travel, I use the Pond's makeup remover sheets to clean my face. They work well for me. No extra water needed. They can be purchased in a travel pack size of around 15 sheets. <BR> <BR>Our hotels in Florence and Venice had full, terry towels and those thin "hand" towels. As for the bidet...ours really wasn't a bidet. No spray. We just called it the "crotch wash". My boyfriend used the rim in Venice to put his shampoo container since there was no shelf in the curtained off shower in the corner. We figured the maids thought we were dumb <BR>Americans who thought the bowl was for washing hair. <BR> <BR>Lee

Ess, I'm with you on the missing shower curtain. They block off the toilet paper so it won't get wet from the spray and put a drain in the middle of the floor. Seems a plastic shower curtain would be a bit more efficient and cheaper besides!

Yes, but you KNOW they would never clean that shower curtain. Eeeeeeuwwwwww.

I had no idea how unpopular my practice is of using a clean washcloth every day. I buy very cheap ones at Target or Wal-Mart, so I have plenty, and washing them every week with the towels is not a problem. My mother taught me to never use one two days in a row, so I just never have. That's the reason that I never take them on vacation, because I can't wash them. <BR> <BR>As to the lack of shower curtains in Europe, I completely agree! It's so difficult to shower without drenching the whole bathroom. <BR>

Guess we were luck in the choice of our hotels but in most places we had thick terry bath sheets. I don't use washcloths and did notice there weren't any, but hand towels worked fine. I was amazed at how absorbent and well those waffle-fabric non-terry bath sheets worked where those were the linens used. In every place they were bath sheet size, too! We also had shower doors in all our hotels except for one curtain, which kept the bathroom dry. Most places (9 hotels) we stayed were 3 star, ranged in price from $70 - $150 per night, and that last was the Due Torri in Roma.