Bath towels and washcloths are two essential linens for any home.
While they may seem similar at first glance, there are some key differences between bath towels and washcloths in terms of their size, materials, uses, and care.
What is a Bath Towel?
A bath towel is a large, rectangular piece of absorbent fabric used to dry your body after bathing or swimming. Bath towels typically measure around 30 x 56 inches, making them big enough to wrap around your torso or dry your entire body efficiently after a shower.
Bath towels are usually made of highly absorbent materials like cotton, bamboo rayon, or linen. The most common weave for bath towels is terry cloth, which has little loops of yarn that make the towels extra soft and plush.
Here are some of the main uses for standard bath towels:
- Drying off your entire body after a shower or bath
- Wrapping up in after leaving the shower/tub
- Drying your hair by turbaning a towel on your head
- Lounging on the beach or by the pool
Bath towels are an essential basic for every household. Most people keep a set of bath towels in their main bathroom for daily showering needs. It’s also nice to have spare towels for guests.
Key Takeaway: Bath towels are large, absorbent towels made of cotton or other fabrics that are used for drying your entire body after bathing.
What is a Washcloth?
A washcloth is a small square cloth used for washing your face or entire body. Washcloths typically measure around 12 x 12 inches. The mini size allows them to be maneuvered easily for cleansing delicate areas.
Washcloths are usually made of gentle, absorbent fabrics like cotton, bamboo, microfiber polyester, or terry cloth. Many feature textured surfaces that help provide light exfoliation when scrubbing the skin.
Here are some common uses for washcloths:
- Washing your face at the sink
- Removing makeup and surface dirt from skin
- Gently scrubbing the body while showering
- Softening and exfoliating with body wash/soap
- Bathing infants
- Wiping up spills and messes around the home
People tend to use a fresh washcloth each time they cleanse their face or shower. Having multiple washcloths on hand makes it easy to toss them in the laundry and grab a new one.
Key Takeaway: Washcloths are small, square cloths used for cleansing the face and body. Their petite size allows for precise cleaning.
Main Differences Between Bath Towels and Washcloths
Now that you know the basics of what bath towels and washcloths are, let’s explore the key differences between the two:
Size
The main difference is size. Bath towels are large and washcloths are small.
- Bath towels range from 30 x 56 inches up to 40 x 70 inches for extra large bath sheets. Their large size makes them ideal for wrapping around the body.
- Washcloths are typically 12 x 12 inches. Some hand towels are 20 x 30 inches. The compact size allows for detailed cleansing.
Materials
Bath towels tend to be made of very absorbent materials like cotton terry or microfiber. They can be a bit rougher and thicker.
Washcloths are often made of gentler materials like cotton velour, organic cotton, or bamboo rayon. The fabrics feel soft and smooth against the delicate facial skin.
Uses
Bath towels have an overall drying function. They soak up water from the entire body after bathing. Their size makes them ideal for this purpose.
Washcloths serve as more of a cleansing tool. Their small size allows you to precisely wash your face, as well as exfoliate and scrub the body with a textured cloth.
Care
Bath towels tend to be heartier and can withstand frequent machine washing and drying.
Washcloths are smaller and more delicate. Take care not to abrade the fabric. Wash in gentle cycles and lay flat or hang to dry.
Key Takeaway: The main differences between bath towels and washcloths are their size, materials, uses, and care requirements. Bath towels are big, thick, and absorbent. Washcloths are small, soft, and used for precise cleansing tasks.
Do You Really Need Both?
Given the different uses and benefits of bath towels versus washcloths, it’s ideal to have both types of towels in your home. Here’s a closer look at why bath towels and washcloths serve unique purposes:
Bath Towels for Full Body Drying
After bathing, your body needs a towel that can envelop you in soft absorbency. Bath towels are designed for this exact purpose. Their generous size makes them perfect for:
- Wrapping around your torso after a shower
- Tucking around you as you step out of the tub
- Quickly drying off drips from your arms, legs, back, and more
A bath towel allows you to efficiently dry your entire body, hair, and extremities after washing up. Their absorbent materials and large scale make bath towels a bathing essential.
Washcloths for Precision Cleansing
While a bath towel excels at overall drying, it lacks the finesse required for proper cleansing. This is where the washcloth comes in handy:
- The small size allows you to grip and control the washcloth with precision as you wash delicate areas like your face, neck, and décolletage.
- Textured terry or exfoliating weaves help lightly scrub away dirt, oil, and dead skin cells from your face and body as you shower.
- Smaller scale encourages more mindful, attentive washing as you clean each area.
- Easy to launder frequently so you always have clean cloths for hygienic cleansing.
Washcloths fill an important role as a gentle exfoliating and cleansing tool that promotes thorough washing.
linthead Washcloths for Babies & Children
Washcloths take on an additional purpose when caring for babies and children. The petite size makes them ideal for gentle cleansing of infants and washing children during bath time.
Key benefits of using washcloths for baby bathing include:
- Soft fabrics like cotton velour or microfiber terry are soothing on little one’s delicate skin
- Easy to grip and control for carefully cleaning each part of baby’s body
- Help support gentle scrubbing of cradle cap on a newborn’s scalp
- Quickly wipe away messes like dribbled food or dirty hands when on-the-go
Washcloths are a nursery necessity and help make baby bath time smooth and soothing.
Key Takeaway: The unique benefits of bath towels for full body drying and washcloths for precision cleansing make it ideal to have both in your home.
Factors to Consider When Buying
Once you decide to stock up on bath towels and washcloths, here are some factors to keep in mind:
Bath Towel Buying Considerations
- Absorbency – Look for highly absorbent materials like cotton, bamboo rayon, microfiber. Terry weave is very absorbent.
- Weight – Heavier weights around 600 GSM will feel more luxurious and substantial.
- Size – Choose bath towels around 30 x 56″ for standard or larger 40 x 70″ bath sheets for wrapping up.
- Colors – Stick to lighter hues if using bleach to clean whites. Dark towels can fade with frequent washing.
- Quantity – Have at least 2 to 3 bath towels per person for laundering convenience.
Washcloth Buying Considerations
- Materials – Seek soft, gentle fabrics like cotton, bamboo, microfiber.
- Weave – Terry or velour weaves provide light scrubbing texture.
- Weight – Around 300 to 600 GSM will have good absorbency without being too bulky.
- Quantity – Have 5+ washcloths per person for daily cleansing use.
- Multipacks – Convenient way to stock up on washcloths for value pricing.
Key Takeaway: When buying, look for absorbent, soft materials in the right weights and sizes. Purchase multiples for convenience.
How to Care for Bath Towels vs Washcloths
Caring for your bath towels and washcloths properly will help them last. Here are some best practices for laundering and extending the life of your towels:
Washing Bath Towels
- Machine wash in cold or warm water. Hot water can fade colors.
- Mild detergent avoids chemical harshness over time.
- Chlorine bleach helps keep white bath towels fresh and bright.
Washing Washcloths
- Gentle cycle helps preserve the soft texture.
- Mild soap like baby shampoo or sensitive skin detergent.
- No bleach for colored washcloths to prevent fading.
- Lay flat or hang to dry instead of the dryer to prevent shrinking.
Drying Bath Towels
- Shake towels out after washing to prevent stiffness.
- Tumble dry on low to reduce lint and pilling.
- Add a few dryer balls to help separate and fluff.
- For stiff terry cloth, tumble dry with a damp washcloth – the moisture softens fibers.
Drying Washcloths
- Reshape washcloths and lay flat or hang to air dry. This prevents shrinkage or damage to delicate fabrics.
- If needed, tumble dry on very low heat with a couple dryer balls.
Storing Bath Towels
- Fold bath towels neatly or roll/stack them.
- Store in a cool, dry place like a linen closet to prevent mildew.
- Wash towels before storing long-term or they can get musty.
Storing Washcloths
- Shake out each washcloth and stack or roll neatly.
- Place in a lidded bin or drawer away from moisture to avoid mildew.
- Store out of direct sunlight to prevent fading.
Key Takeaway: Wash bath towels in warm water with mild detergent. Dry on low heat. Store washcloths flat in a dry place to maximize life span.
Typical Bath Towel vs. Washcloth Uses
To give you a better idea of how bath towels and washcloths typically fit into a bathing routine, here are some examples of their different uses:
Bath Towel Uses
- Stepping onto a bath towel or wrapping one around you when getting out of the shower.
- Turbaning a towel on your head to soak up drips from wet hair.
- Drying off your entire body, including legs, arms, back, stomach, etc.
- Wrapping a dry towel around your body or tucking it around your torso after bathing.
- Lounging on a large beach towel while sunbathing.
- Spreading out a towel to sit on the grass or ground outside.
Washcloth Uses
- Using a clean washcloth each morning and evening to wash your face.
- Softening skin and lightly exfoliating as you shower by rubbing a textured washcloth over the body with soap.
- Gently scrubbing the scalp and washing infant’s delicate skin during bath time.
- Letting your children use washcloths for wiping hands and faces when eating outside the home.
- Wiping up spills like juice, milk or toilet water when away from home instead of fabric napkins.
Key Takeaway: Bath towels dry the whole body after showering, while washcloths offer gentle scrubbing for facial and body cleansing.
FAQs
Are washcloths necessary if I have bath towels?
Washcloths serve a unique purpose that bath towels cannot fulfill. Their small size allows for detailed cleansing of the face and body areas that require more precision. Most people find it useful to have both washcloths and bath towels.
How often should you replace bath towels?
Plan to replace your bath towels every 2 to 3 years with regular use. Higher quality towels made of Turkish or Egyptian cotton can sometimes last 5+ years with proper care.
How many washcloths and bath towels should you own?
A good general rule is to have at least:
- 5 to 7 bath towels per household member
- 5 to 10 washcloths per person
This allows you to launder them conveniently between uses.
Should children use separate washcloths from adults?
Yes, it’s ideal for children to have their own set of washcloths. Adult washcloths are often too rough for a child’s sensitive skin. Dedicated children’s washcloths are gentler.
How do you sanitize used washcloths and bath towels?
Wash them in hot water above 130°F and use bleach for whites to help kill bacteria. You can also occasionally sanitize by washing in hot water then drying on the highest dryer heat setting.
Conclusion
While bath towels and washcloths are both used for bathing, they serve very different purposes.
Bath towels excel at drying your body with their large size and absorbent materials.
Washcloths are specially designed for precise, gentle cleansing of the face and body.
Ideally, stock up on both bath towel options. High quality cotton or bamboo washcloths and bath towels will last for years with proper laundering.
