Hand Towels Vs Wash Cloth, These Two Cloths Often Get Mixed Up.
Although they’re similar in size, they’re made to be used for different things.
As you see in their names, a hand cloth is primarily for wiping your hands, while a wash cloth is to wash your body with during the shower or bath.
What Is A Wash Cloth?
A washcloth is a small square like cloth that is used to wash your body. It's usually used with soap and it’s primary purpose is to scrub and exfoliate your skin.
Since a washcloth has a different texture than your hand, it’s much more effective at getting into your skin and cleaning your pores.
A washcloth can be used for your face and your body and as said before, it’s most effective when you use it with soap.
A washcloth can range in texture. If you see one that's specifically for the face, it’s usually a little softer since your skin is more sensitive compared to the skin on your body.
Materials for washcloth can range from linen, cotton, to microfibre.
What’s a Hand towel?
If you’re a regular here, you’ll be familiar with what a hand towel is. For those who are new here, I’ll give a brief description of it.
A hand towel is primarily used for the hands to dry them.
This is usually seen in the bathroom next to the sink. Since this is for drying the hands, its focused more on absorbing and drying your hands effectively.
Many people who use hand towels prefer to have multiple of them. That way, not only is there enough for each bathroom, but there’s also the ability to have separate ones for guests to keep things hygienic.
What's The Difference Between a Hand Towel vs Wash Cloth?
Some people may be wondering why we need different towels. The main idea behind this is to keep things clean.
Your face reacts differently than your hands.
The care you give your face must be more delicate compared to your body since the face is more sensitive.
If you use the same towel for your body on your face, you risk dirtying your face which can lead to skin irritations on your face.
It’s going to be annoying walking around with your face being so red or even bumpy.
The Differences: Hand Towel vs Wash Cloth
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Size
- Hand towels are much bigger than washcloths since they’re needed to dry the hands effectively
- Washcloths are smaller since they need to be held and scrub the body.
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Purpose
- Hand towels are made to dry the hands quickly and effectively
- Washcloths are made to ensure your body is clean and the dirt is removed from your skin.
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Texture intent
- Hand towels need to be woven so that they optimized for absorbency
- Washcloths need to be woven so they optimize to clean your skin properly.
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Frequency of washing
- Since a wash cloth is needed to scrub your whole body, washing it once a week should be good for you.
- Hand towels can be less frequent. It can be washed every 1-2 weeks.
How to Find the Best Hand Towel and Washcloth
Fabric
The fabric you choose matters more than most people realize.
A good hand towel should dry your skin quickly, feel soft, and stay fresh even after daily use. Cotton is the standard choice and it does a decent job. It is soft, fairly absorbent, and easy to find.
The problem is that many cotton hand towels are made with shorter fibres, heavy dyes, and softeners that make them feel good on day one but wear out, lose absorbency, and start to smell sooner than they should.
Linen, especially high quality linen, is a better long term option for hand towels.
The fibres are naturally stronger, more absorbent, and they dry much faster than cotton, which helps prevent that damp towel smell that never quite goes away.
Linen is also naturally hypoallergenic and gentle on the skin, which matters if you are drying your face multiple times a day.
For washcloths, you can still use cotton if you prefer a plush feel, but when it comes to the towel you reach for at the sink, a well woven linen hand towel will usually perform better, last longer, and stay fresher.
Reputation
Fabric is only half the story. The reputation of the company behind your towels tells you almost everything you need to know about how they will treat your skin and your health.
A good hand towel touches your face, hands, and neck every single day.
If you care about your skin, you should care about what that fabric has been made from, how it has been dyed, and whether it has been rushed through production or carefully woven to last.
Cheap towels are often packed with unnecessary chemicals so they feel soft on the shelf, not because they truly respect your body.
This is why it makes sense to invest in towels from a maker with a real history of working with natural fibres.
You want a brand that is open about where its fabric is woven, how long it has been doing it, and why it chooses certain fibres over others.
When you think about it, your skin is your first line of defence in life. If your towels irritate it, trap moisture, or hold onto bacteria, that affects you every single day, even in small ways.
Choosing a well made linen hand towel from a trusted weaver is not about buying something “fancy.” It is about deciding that your skin, your body, and your daily routine are worth being taken seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Better To Wash With Your Hands Or Washcloths?
When washing your body, you want to ensure it’s clean especially after a long day. This means you want to ensure your pores are thoroughly cleaned out. Because of this, you want to wash your body with a washcloth. You’ll be able to exfoliate your skin better, giving you a healthier glow.
Washing with your hands is still fine, but you won’t be as clean as you would be with a washcloth.
What Is The Most Hygienic Way To Wash Your Hands?
The most hygienic way is with a high quality soap and after that drying your hands with a highly absorbent towel that can dry quickly. To get a high quality hand towel like that, you’ll want to invest in fabrics that are natural such as linen.
Can You Use A Hand Towel As A Wash Cloth?
Technically you can, but if a wash cloth is available, its better to use that.
A hand towel is mainly for drying your hands off. While the fabric can help you clean your body, it’s better to have a washcloth since the texture may be a little different and it cleans you better.
