Should You Wash Your Body With Your Hands, a Washcloth, or a Loofah?
Few shower questions start a fight like this one. On Reddit, "do you guys actually use a washcloth or loofah every time you shower or just hands?" pulled in more than 1,300 comments, and "Are you guys just washing yourself with your hands in the shower?" wasn't far behind. We make a Japanese exfoliating towel, so we're not neutral. But we'll give you the honest answer.
Here it is: hands and soap get you clean. A washcloth or exfoliating towel adds scrubbing, reach and that "freshly scrubbed" feeling. And whatever you use, the thing to watch is a tool that never dries.
Do hands actually get you clean?
Yes. Soap or body wash and water do the cleaning. Your hands just spread the lather and help rinse it away. One of the most upvoted posts on the subject is titled, simply, "Your hands are enough." Your skin also sheds on its own, every day.
What hands don't do is scrub much. Palms are soft, they can't reach the middle of your back, and some people just don't feel done without a bit of texture. That's why another popular thread asks "how long does it take to feel clean after ditching loofahs for bare hands?" Being clean and feeling scrubbed are two different things, and both are fair to want.
Hands are a great fit if your skin is happy with them, if it's sensitive and doesn't like scrubbing, or if you want the simplest routine there is.
When a washcloth or exfoliating towel helps (rough spots, your back, feeling "scrubbed")
A tool earns its place when you want more than lather:
- Rough, dry spots. Elbows, knees and feet are the usual suspects.
- Your back. Hold a long towel by both ends and slide it across your shoulders and down the middle you can't reach.
- Lather and body hair. A cloth works body wash into a fuller lather and spreads it more easily than bare palms.
- The scrubbed feeling. If you step out feeling "not quite done," a little texture can help.
Go gently. The American Academy of Dermatology's guide to exfoliating safely at home says to use short, light strokes with a brush or sponge, moisturize afterwards, never exfoliate cut or sunburned skin, and not to overdo it. With an exfoliating towel, a gentle towel wash a few times a week is plenty. New to it? Start with once or twice a week and use the lightest pressure. Hands are fine on the days in between.
What's wrong with loofahs? (It's about staying damp)
Loofahs aren't evil, and plenty of people love the lather. The catch is their shape. A mesh puff or a dense sponge holds water in its layers, and in a warm, steamy shower it can stay damp for a long time. Damp tools can hold bacteria, and that goes for a washcloth left balled up on the tub ledge, too.
If you love your loofah, keep it:
- Rinse all the soap out after each shower.
- Squeeze out as much water as you can.
- Hang it outside the spray, somewhere air can move around it.
- Replace it when it smells musty, changes color or starts falling apart.
Flat, open weaves have an easier time here. The Sima Japanese washcloth is quick-drying: rinse it, wring it out and hang it to dry.
How many times can you use a washcloth before washing it?
Reddit's most popular answer is the simple one: a fresh washcloth every shower, and the used one goes in the laundry. Keep a small stack and you never have to think about it.
If you reuse a cloth or towel, the deciding factor is whether it dries completely before your next shower. Rinse out the soap, wring it, and hang it open, not bunched up. Wash or swap it as soon as it smells musty, feels slimy or is still damp the next time you reach for it. And keep it to yourself; shower tools aren't for sharing.
What's the most hygienic thing to wash your body with?
Honestly, there's no single winner. Your hands are always with you and get washed along with everything else. A washcloth used once and laundered is the classic answer. A towel or sponge that gets rinsed and dries fully between showers works too. The one to avoid is anything that stays wet and gets used for months. Whatever you pick, keep it clean and let it dry.
How to pick: hands, washcloth, net sponge, or Japanese towel
- Hands: free, simple and gentle. Best if your skin is happy and you don't miss the scrub.
- Washcloth: soft texture and easy to throw in the wash. Best if you'll keep a stack and use a fresh one each time.
- African net sponge: long, very scrubby and a Reddit favorite. Fans like how fast the open net dries; some find it too rough.
- Loofah or shower puff: great lather. Best if you'll dry it well and replace it regularly.
- Japanese exfoliating towel: a long, textured towel made for washing your body in the shower. It's long enough to reach your back, and you control the scrub: use the full length on your back, or fold it up for a gentler wash.
You don't have to choose just one. Plenty of people use their hands most days and reach for a towel when they want a proper scrub.
Hands vs washcloth vs loofah FAQ
Is it weird to not use a washcloth or loofah in the shower?
Not at all. Lots of people wash with just their hands and soap. It mostly comes down to habit and what you grew up with.
Do you need to exfoliate your body?
No. Your skin sheds on its own. Exfoliating is optional, for smoother-feeling skin and that scrubbed feeling. Keep it gentle, and if you have a diagnosed skin condition, see a dermatologist before adding a scrub.
Can I use an exfoliating towel every day?
We wouldn't. A gentle towel wash a few times a week is plenty. If you're just starting, begin with once or twice a week and use the lightest pressure. If your skin turns red or feels irritated, ease off.
How do I wash my back with just my hands?
Lather up, reach over your shoulder and around your sides as far as you can, then let the water rinse it. If the middle of your back never feels done, that's where a long towel helps.
How often should I replace my shower tool?
Whenever it smells musty, changes color, frays or won't dry between showers. Washcloths simply go in the laundry. For the Sima Japanese washcloth, we suggest replacing it about every 90 days.
Try it for 30 days.
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Sima Japanese Exfoliating Washcloth
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