The Best Washcloths For All Types of Cleaning
Ah, the humble washcloth. It’s something we take for granted in our everyday lives, but take it away from us, and we’ll be quick to notice. Washcloths have been used for personal hygiene and household cleaning for many years, and to this day, they’re still very much a needed household item. Whether it’s to dry your hair after a nice shower or to cool down after a long session at the gym, the best washcloths will absorb moisture and clean dirt to ensure that everything is clean.
While washcloths aren’t very different from one another, there are some with better deals or better quality in the market. We’ve gathered the five top picks for washcloths. You won’t have to worry about dirty surfaces or sweaty skin at home with these high-quality fabrics.
Comparing the Best Washcloth of 2023
Cleanbear Washcloth
– Best Overall
Color-coding your washcloths can be a great way to keep things organized at home. The last thing you’d want is to clean your face using a washcloth that you just used to wipe the toilet seat. With different colors for each washcloth, you’ll be able to determine which cloth is used for which purpose. This set of six washcloths comes in six different colors, allowing you to have one for showering, one for the gym, one for cleaning, and so on.
And that’s not the only color combination available. There are also sets that are all black if you prefer black towels, black and white, or a specific color such as pink or mint green. All the washcloths are 100% cotton and are super absorbent, so no matter how soaked you or the surface may be, they’ll get dried quickly.
- Super absorbent
- Various colors
- Only 6 towels
Simpli-Magic Washcloth
– Runner Up
With Simpli-Magic, for just under $30, you can get a total of 60 washcloths. That’s essentially 50 cents per washcloth. Each individual cloth is made out of 100% cotton. There are a few colors in each set, including gray, blue, brown, green, and purple.
While 60 pieces may seem like a lot, it can be helpful in many situations. For example, you can set aside the green washcloths for guest use, whereas the gray cloths are for personal hygiene. The brown washcloths can be used for cleaning, and the purple ones can be used to dry dishes, and so on. With this many washcloths, it’ll be quite a while before you’ll need to buy more.
- Plenty of towels
- 100% cotton
- 60 towels (more than most sets)
Yoofoss Washcloth
– Honorable Mention
Have you ever tried bamboo fabric? Like cotton, it’s soft and comfortable on the skin, even better than traditional fabric. Because it’s made out of bamboo, it’s incredibly durable and can handle being pulled with no problem at all. These towels are 10” by 10”, large enough for personal hygiene but also small enough to be carried around.
These towels can be used in a variety of ways, whether it be to clean surfaces or to dry hair and skin. These bamboo rayon towels are super absorbent, making them great for cleaning up wet areas in the house. And since they’re so durable, you can even throw these towels in the washing machine, and they’ll come out good as new.
- Durable
- Made out of bamboo fabric
- Only comes in one color per set
Utopia Towels Washcloth
– Also Consider
These are the towels that you’ll want to use to dry yourself off after a shower. They are made out of soft cotton and are ring spun, too. The fabric is highly absorbent and has a nice feel to it, making it great for bath towels. This is also thanks to its size: at 12” by 12”, you have plenty of areas to use to dry your skin easily.
The towels come in a set of 24, which is more than enough for the whole family. In fact, you can have a few towels per person to ensure they always have a dry towel whenever necessary. This set is perfect for a large family. There are several color options, but you cannot mix and match colors.
- Large towels
- Soft to the touch
- Only one color per set
Finally, it’d be remiss of us to not include the Amazon Basics version of the humble washcloth. Amazon Basics goods are known for being of decent quality while also being fairly cheaper than other brands. This is the case for towels, too, and you can buy either 24-piece or 60-piece sets depending on how many you need. You can also choose from a few different colors, though as with other sets, you can’t mix and match.
There are a few other options aside from color and amount. The style of the cloth can also be chosen. There are fast-drying washcloths, towels, and hand towels, and you can choose which size you prefer for your home. All towels are made out of 100% cotton, and overall they’re a solid choice no matter what you need them for.
- Affordable
- Can choose the type of cloth as well as color and amount
- Not a lot of color options are available
Buying Guide for the Best Washcloths
We use washcloths in our everyday life. If your washcloths are starting to become dull and old, this guide should help you find a suitable replacement.
What Is a Washcloth?
A washcloth is a cloth used to wipe one’s body. It is typically used after taking a shower or bath to dry your skin. Washcloths can also be used for a variety of tasks, such as household cleaning.
Why Is It Important To Have a Washcloth?
They dry your hair and skin.
Washcloths are a must-have if you want to dry off quickly after a hot bath or shower. It takes a while for the water to evaporate from your skin, and it’s even more difficult to dry your hair without using a towel.
Even if you had the time to wait for the water to dry off, you’d still have to deal with water dripping onto the floor. If you have wooden tiles, this can be a real problem, as the water can affect and damage the integrity of the tile. Therefore, using washcloths to dry yourself is essential for a lot of people, and far more convenient than just waiting around to get dry.
They can be used to clean the house.
Washcloths may be named due to their use in personal hygiene, but they’re far more versatile than that. In fact, you can use washcloths for many other purposes, as they are designed to absorb moisture and liquids fairly well. From cleaning up spilled juice or milk on the counter to wipe off muddy shoes and boots, and many more, you can find plenty of uses for your washcloth.
Tips When Using a Washcloth
Get different colored or designed washcloths for easy sorting
If you use washcloths for many different purposes other than personal hygiene, you’ll definitely want to choose washcloths of different colors and/or designs. Technically, all you really need is a way to identify different washcloths from one another. However, for easy identification, it’s much more efficient to get washcloths of different colors.
By having different colors for your washcloth, you can tell immediately which one you’re supposed to use for specific tasks. For example, if you decided to use red washcloths to wipe the dining table after use, then you know that you shouldn’t use them to wipe your hair after a shower. This can work if you have washcloths of the same color but with different designs as well – you can instantly recognize stripes from spots, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding the cloth that you need.
Have extras ready at all times
There’s no such thing as too many washcloths. In fact, it’s a good idea to keep a few clean washcloths at home just in case. You may not need them now, but you may eventually end up losing or damaging one of your washcloths. Having a few extra around can really save you in a pinch.
If you’re color-coding your washcloths, consider stocking up on a few for each color. If that’s not possible, prioritize colors that see plenty of use, such as washcloths used for household cleaning, as those are the washcloths that are most likely to get damaged, stained, or lost.
Choose the right size
Washcloths come in more than one size, with some being much larger than others. Large washcloths are usually best used for personal hygiene – the large surface area ensures you’ll always have a dry patch to absorb additional moisture or water when needed. On the other hand, smaller washcloths are better used for cleaning around the house, as they can be used fairly easily and aren’t that heavy. They may also be used to dry your hands after washing them.
When picking the right size, consider what you need more – if you’re lacking in the bath towel department, then larger washcloths are the ideal choice, and if you need some more cleaning cloths, then smaller versions are better.
Types of Washcloths
Cotton
Cotton washcloths are by far the most common in terms of material. Cotton is affordable, super absorbent, and soft, but in terms of durability and strength, it fails to compare against more modern alternatives. Still, cotton has a unique feel to it, and that can be reason enough to get cotton washcloths for your home.
Bamboo
Bamboo washcloths are similar to cotton in many respects. They’re plant-based fabrics that are super absorbent. Bamboo towels are also soft to the touch, though you’ll be able to tell the difference between bamboo and cotton cloth. What makes bamboo cloth extra special is its durability – bamboo is known for its resilience, and bamboo towels are no exception to this.
Microfiber
Microfiber towels are fairly new. They have an interesting feel to them, and as such are more popularly used to clean rather than for personal hygiene. Microfiber is durable and strong as well as super absorbent, serving as a more heavy-duty alternative to bamboo.
Washcloth FAQ
A: Ideally, you’ll want enough washcloths for everyone in the house to use at all times with a few extra to spare. It also depends on how often you use your washcloth and what you use it for. We recommend having several extras, in case of spills.
A: You’ll want to wash your washcloth after 3 to 5 uses, though you can go on for a week or so and still be relatively fine.
A: A wet washcloth can serve as ideal conditions for the likes of bacteria, so it’s best to have them cleaned regularly to prevent the spread of infection and the like. Clean washcloths are not bad for the skin.
