So, I have come to a very simple conclusion: White people don’t use wash cloths. Or if you are the sophisticated type, face cloth. Is this true? How can using a wash cloth have any cultural bias whatsoever? I mean seriously, it’s a wash cloth. Or for all of my homies, a wash rag. That’s right, I just used the word, homies. But based on all the homes I have stayed in and showered in, I have to conclude that white people don’t use wash cloths. At least not in the shower. Maybe nowhere, I just don’t know.
If I stay at someone’s house and they are of the Caucasian persuasion, and they are a well-prepared host, they will have linens ready to go. However, 9 times out of 10, I will have to request a wash cloth. And 9 times out of 10 they will look at me strangely, as if I just requested shower shoes. And for some of you out there, shower shoes would not be a strange request. You know who you are. Clean it up!
What is even more interesting, I have had people ask me if I wanted a wash cloth, but they made the request in a weird way, as if to say, “I normally don’t use one of these things, but I think I read somewhere that your people do, so I’m going to see if you want one.” Now it makes me wonder, if I get offered a face cloth, does that make them racist?
Seriously, I want to know. If you are white, do you use a wash/face cloth in the shower? If not, why the heck not? Every black person I know uses wash cloths. How can this possibly be a race thing? I am sorry, but wash cloths just make sense. I need to know.
PS – Dry off before you get out of the shower. Yeah you got a shower mat, but stepping on a soaking wet shower rug is just gross. I don’t think this is a race thing, but it’s my thing.
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According to one of my classes, students have made it very clear that shower shoes are a requirement for college. Is this true everywhere? I feel like with all the issues and challenges college has to offer, getting foot rot should not be one of them. I’m just sayin’ …
Race Credit Karma: Brett's Blog 
It’s the people you know. I grew up with wash cloths, and whenever I stayed with friends, they were always offered. I remember wash cloths were always on the list of things to pack for summer camp. Often as not, we wrapped our soap in the wash cloth after a shower.
However, I think I can say that Russians don’t use them. Why? Because for as long as I have been in Russia – 24 years -, I have never seen them on sale, nor have I seen them in my friends’ bathrooms. When my mother gave us linens as gifts, my wife never knew what to do with the wash cloth. Does noting that fact make me a nationalist, in the bad sense of that term?
I also note that Russians have a whole arsenal of things to rub the body with in the shower. Just no wash cloths.
I also have to admit that it is hard for me to imagine a bathroom without wash cloths.
I am white, I suppose.
Go figure!
Hey Garth, thanks for the comment. I have half a mind to research the history of wash cloths. Why do some people use them and others not? The people that I have talked to recently, since this blog, don’t understand why anyone would use a wash cloth. However, those that use a wash cloth, can’t imagine not using one. Weird. My only possible explanation is genetic drift, or founder effect, but instead of genes, wash cloths. Be well and thanks for reading.
Brett! Once again you have managed to make my day with this Seinfeldian….yes, that is a real word, look it up, topic!
I grew up using them and My mom still uses them. But then at some point I stopped and started using those scrubby gloves that they sell at bath stores. But the same concept.
I don’t really care what people use, but ya gotta scrub the dead skin off some how people…especially us white folks…we are not known to age very gracefully in the skin department. And that is not racist, just a known fact.
All I know is somehow all my black friends never seem to age, not one wrinkle or enlarged pore to be found. So perhaps you have just opened my eyes to something…I’m switching back to wash cloths pronto!
Happy New Year
Loofah baby. Though we do put out wash cloths and towels when folks visit.