Washcloth

A washcloth, wash-cloth, washrag (North American English) ^{[1] [2] [3] [a] [5] [6]} or facecloth, flannel (British English) ^{[7] [2] [8] [1]} or cleansing cloth ^[9] is a rectangular or square piece of cloth used in personal hygeine; for washing the body.

Washcloths are useful for cleansing ^[9] or removing dead skin ^[10] (stratum corneum ^[11] ). Washcloths are typically made of terrycloth and measure around 12x12 inches in size. ^[12] A sub-variant of the washcloth is the washing mitt. ^{[13] [b]}

Washcloths are also used in the context of hospital settings on the pretext basins pose the risk of multidrug resistant organisms contamination; to avoid infection. ^{[15] [c]} Superior pathogen elimination occurs using washcloths containing chlorhexidine. ^{[17] [18]}

Washcloths are used also in beauty care. ^[19] In cosmetics the washcloth is a part of exfoliation. ^[20]

See also

• Dishcloth
• Towel

Notes

1. A Hungarian word translated as "washcloths" (2022) was in usage during 1816 ^[4]
2. The washing mitt can also be used for washing cars. ^[14]
3. Prefabricated moist washcloths in packages were/are a possible source of a hospital infection ^[16]

References

1. "washcloth". Merriam-Webster.
2. "washcloth". Oxford University: Learner's Dictionaries. (North American English) (British English flannel, facecloth)
3. "washcloth". dictionary.com. An Americanism dating from 1900–05
4. Poczai, Peter; Karvalics, László Z. (20 October 2022). "The little-known history of cleanliness and the forgotten pioneers of handwashing". Frontiers in Public Health . 10 979464. Bibcode:2022FrPH...1079464P. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.979464 . PMC   9632745 . PMID   36339162. 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")
5. "wash-cloth". Oxford University. 1915; Gene Stratton-Porter
6. "washrag". dictionary.com. An Americanism dating from 1885-90
7. "flannel". dictionary.com.
8. "washcloth". Collins. regional note: in BRIT, use flannel, facecloth
9. Zoe Diane Draelos. Kenneth Tomecki (ed.). "Cosmeceuticals: What's Real, What's Not". Dermatologic Clinics . 37 (1). Elsevier: 108-9. ISBN   978-0-323-65498-2.
10. Claire Sissons (January 2, 2020). "Removing dead skin from the face: 6 ways and what to avoid". medicalnewstoday.com . Retrieved February 14, 2024. Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP)
11. Kligman, Albert (September 22, 2005). "3 A Brief History of How the Dead Stratum Corneum Became Alive". In Kenneth R. Feingold; Peter M. Elias (eds.). Skin Barrier. p. 15. ISBN   978-0-8493-6129-6.
12. Sabella, Maria. "Common Towel Sizes to Know". The Spruce . Retrieved February 14, 2024.
13. Leighann Remmert; Sheila A. Sorrentino (2022). "Giving a Complete Bedbath". Workbook and Competency Evaluation Review for Mosby's Essentials for Nursing Assistants - E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 253. ISBN   978-0-323-81112-5.
14. "Mitt Makes Car Shine". Popular Science . Vol. 156, no. 3. Bonnier Corporation. 1950. p. 136. ISSN   0161-7370.
15. Martin, Emily Toth; Haider, Samran; Palleschi, Maria; Eagle, Sommer; Crisostomo, Delfin V.; Haddox, Pamela; Harmon, Laura; Mazur, Robin; Moshos, Judy; Marchaim, Dror; Kaye, Keith S. (September 2017). "Bathing hospitalized dependent patients with prepackaged disposable washcloths instead of traditional bath basins: A case-crossover study". American Journal of Infection Control . 45 (9): 990–994. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2017.03.023. PMC   5581711 . PMID   28502637.
16. Martin, M.; Christiansen, B.; Caspari, G.; Hogardt, M.; von Thomsen, A.J.; Ott, E.; Mattner, F. (March 2011). "Hospital-wide outbreak of Burkholderia contaminans caused by prefabricated moist washcloths". Journal of Hospital Infection . 77 (3): 267–270. doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2010.10.004. PMID   21216034.
17. Afonso, Elsa; Blot, Koen; Blot, Stijn (17 November 2016). Ines Steffens (ed.). "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". Eurosurveillance . 21 (46) 30400. doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.46.30400. PMC   5144946 . PMID   27918269. 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 HA BSI. 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.
18. "Daily Bathing With Antiseptic Agent Significantly Reduces Risk of Hospital-Acquired Infections in Intensive Care Unit Patients". Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017.
19. Alexandra Soveral (November 2, 2017). "Chapter 1 Your Skin". Perfect Skin. Ebury Publishing. p. (no page number) HONEY EXFOLIATING METHOD. ISBN   978-1-4735-5204-3.
20. Wernham, A.G.; Cain, O.L.; Thomas, A.M. (October 2018). "Effect of an exfoliating skincare regimen on the numbers of epithelial squames on the skin of operating theatre staff, studied by surface microscopy". Journal of Hospital Infection . 100 (2): 190–194. doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2018.03.014. PMID   29577991.