Washcloth

{{Short description|Small cloth used for washing the body}} thumb| A '''washcloth''', '''wash-cloth''', '''washrag''' (North American English) <ref name=M-W>{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/washcloth|title=washcloth|publisher=Merriam-Webster}}</ref><ref name=OULD>{{cite web|url=https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/washcloth|title=washcloth|publisher=Oxford University: Learner's Dictionaries|quote=(North American English) (British English flannel, facecloth)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=washcloth|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/washcloth|publisher=dictionary.com|quote=An Americanism dating from 1900–05}}</ref>{{efn|A Hungarian word translated as "washcloths" (2022) was in usage during 1816<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Poczai |first1=Peter |last2=Karvalics |first2=László Z. |title=The little-known history of cleanliness and the forgotten pioneers of handwashing |journal=Frontiers in Public Health|publisher=Frontiers Media SA|date=20 October 2022 |volume=10 |article-number=979464 |doi=10.3389/fpubh.2022.979464 |doi-access=free |pmid=36339162 |pmc=9632745 |bibcode=2022FrPH...1079464P |quote=However, indirect evidence can help to clarify whether the principles identified by Zsoldos were translated into the daily medical practice in the Women's Hospital (Asszony Ispotályi Intézet) what he established in Pápa in 1816 (79). The hospital's inventory records from 1816, the year of its foundation, could provide a partial answer (82). The hospital inventory makes a clear distinction between the metal utensils provided for patients and the textile linen used after cleaning them (linen "towelettes" or "washcloths")}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oed.com/dictionary/wash-cloth_n-a?tl=true|title=wash-cloth|publisher=Oxford University|quote=1915; Gene Stratton-Porter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=washrag|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/washrag|publisher=dictionary.com|quote=An Americanism dating from 1885-90}}</ref> or '''facecloth''', '''flannel''' (British English) <ref>{{cite web|title=flannel|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/flannel|publisher=dictionary.com}}</ref><ref name=OULD/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/washcloth|title=washcloth|publisher=Collins|quote=regional note: in BRIT, use flannel, facecloth}}</ref><ref name=M-W/> or '''cleansing cloth''' <ref name=Draelos/> is a rectangular or square piece of cloth used in personal hygiene, for washing the body.

Washcloths are useful for cleansing<ref name=Draelos>{{cite journal |author=Zoe Diane Draelos |date= 29 November 2018|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zYx8DwAAQBAJ&dq=washcloth+cleansing&pg=PA109 |title=Cosmeceuticals: What's Real, What's Not|editor=Kenneth Tomecki|journal=Dermatologic Clinics|volume=37|number=1 |publisher=Elsevier |pages=108–9 |isbn=978-0-323-65498-2}}</ref> or removing dead skin<ref>{{Cite web|author=Claire Sissons|date=January 2, 2020 |title=Removing dead skin from the face: 6 ways and what to avoid |url=https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327394 |access-date=February 14, 2024 |website=medicalnewstoday.com |language=en|quote=Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) }}</ref> (stratum corneum<ref>{{cite book |last=Kligman |first=Albert|author-link=Albert Kligman|date=September 22, 2005 |title=Skin Barrier |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gUpUacsvP5kC|chapter=3 A Brief History of How the Dead Stratum Corneum Became Alive |chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=gUpUacsvP5kC&dq=stratum+corneum+are+dead&pg=PA15|publisher=CRC Press|editor1=Kenneth R. Feingold|editor2=Peter M. Elias|page=15 |isbn=978-0-8493-6129-6}}</ref>). Washcloths are typically made of terrycloth and measure around 12x12 inches in size.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sabella |first=Maria |title=Common Towel Sizes to Know |url=https://www.thespruce.com/common-towel-sizes-5222691 |access-date=February 14, 2024 |website=The Spruce |language=en}}</ref> A sub-variant of the washcloth is the washing mitt.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Leighann Remmert |author2=Sheila A. Sorrentino |date=2022 |title=Workbook and Competency Evaluation Review for Mosby's Essentials for Nursing Assistants - E-Book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JOlcEAAAQBAJ |publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|chapter=Giving a Complete Bedbath |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JOlcEAAAQBAJ&dq=washing+mitt+wash+cloth&pg=PA253|page=253 |isbn=978-0-323-81112-5 }}</ref> {{efn|The washing mitt can also be used for washing cars.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1950|title=Mitt Makes Car Shine |magazine=Popular Science |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KS0DAAAAMBAJ&dq=washing+mitt&pg=RA1-PA136 |publisher=Bonnier Corporation |volume= 156|number=3|issn=0161-7370 |page=136}}</ref> }}

Washcloths are also used in the context of hospital settings to avoid infection on the pretext that basins pose the risk of multidrug resistant organism contamination.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Martin |first1=Emily Toth |last2=Haider |first2=Samran |last3=Palleschi |first3=Maria |last4=Eagle |first4=Sommer |last5=Crisostomo |first5=Delfin V. |last6=Haddox |first6=Pamela |last7=Harmon |first7=Laura |last8=Mazur |first8=Robin |last9=Moshos |first9=Judy |last10=Marchaim |first10=Dror |last11=Kaye |first11=Keith S. |title=Bathing hospitalized dependent patients with prepackaged disposable washcloths instead of traditional bath basins: A case-crossover study |journal=American Journal of Infection Control |date=September 2017 |volume=45 |issue=9 |pages=990–994 |doi=10.1016/j.ajic.2017.03.023 |pmid=28502637 |pmc=5581711 }}</ref> {{efn|Prefabricated moist washcloths in packages were/are a possible source of a hospital infection<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Martin |first1=M. |last2=Christiansen |first2=B. |last3=Caspari |first3=G. |last4=Hogardt |first4=M. |last5=von Thomsen |first5=A.J. |last6=Ott |first6=E. |last7=Mattner |first7=F. |title=Hospital-wide outbreak of Burkholderia contaminans caused by prefabricated moist washcloths |journal=Journal of Hospital Infection |date=March 2011 |volume=77 |issue=3 |pages=267–270 |doi=10.1016/j.jhin.2010.10.004 |pmid=21216034 }}</ref>}} Superior pathogen elimination occurs using washcloths containing chlorhexidine.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Afonso |first1=Elsa |last2=Blot |first2=Koen |last3=Blot |first3=Stijn |title=Prevention of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections through chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated washcloth bathing in intensive care units: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised crossover trials|editor=Ines Steffens|journal=Eurosurveillance|date=17 November 2016 |volume=21 |issue=46 |article-number=30400 |doi=10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.46.30400 |pmid=27918269 |pmc=5144946 |quote=This meta-analysis of four trials, involving 25 ICUs and 22,850 patients, provides evidence that daily patient bathing with CHG washcloths can reduce the incidence of HABSI. This effect appears mainly to be due to a reduction in CLABSI, possibly based on eradication of Gram-positive skin commensals. After removal of a high-risk-of-bias study, the intervention impact in the Gram-positive and non-central line-associated HABSI subgroups became non-significant.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality |url=https://innovations.ahrq.gov/profiles/daily-bathing-antiseptic-agent-significantly-reduces-risk-hospital-acquired-infections |title=Daily Bathing With Antiseptic Agent Significantly Reduces Risk of Hospital-Acquired Infections in Intensive Care Unit Patients |date=23 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113133136/https://innovations.ahrq.gov/profiles/daily-bathing-antiseptic-agent-significantly-reduces-risk-hospital-acquired-infections |archive-date=13 January 2017 }}</ref>

Washcloths are used also in beauty care.<ref>{{cite book|author=Alexandra Soveral|date=November 2, 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jmU8DgAAQBAJ&q=Perfect+Skin+++Alexandra+Soveral|title=Perfect Skin|page=(no page number) <small>HONEY EXFOLIATING METHOD</small>|chapter=Chapter 1 Your Skin|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jmU8DgAAQBAJ&dq=exfoliation+with+flannel&pg=PT136|publisher=Ebury Publishing|isbn=978-1-4735-5204-3}}</ref> In cosmetics the washcloth is a part of exfoliation.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wernham |first1=A.G. |last2=Cain |first2=O.L. |last3=Thomas |first3=A.M. |title=Effect of an exfoliating skincare regimen on the numbers of epithelial squames on the skin of operating theatre staff, studied by surface microscopy |journal=Journal of Hospital Infection |date=October 2018 |volume=100 |issue=2 |pages=190–194 |doi=10.1016/j.jhin.2018.03.014 |pmid=29577991 }}</ref>

==See also== *Cleanser *Dishcloth *Handkerchief *Soap *Toner *Towel

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Bathing Category:Linens Category:Personal hygiene products