Written by Ryan Payne · May 2026
Washcloths do an adequate job of applying soap to skin. The problem is what happens between uses. A damp cloth folded over a towel bar or bunched in a shower corner stays wet for hours, which is enough time for bacteria and mold to establish in the fabric before your next shower.
Most people don't think about this because the washcloth is clean when they grab it. By the time they're using it, it may not be.
How Washcloths Accumulate Bacteria
The fiber structure of a terry cloth washcloth traps dead skin cells, soap residue, and moisture after every use. Bacteria from the skin surface transfer to the cloth during washing and remain in the fabric as it sits damp in the bathroom. Studies on bathroom textiles consistently find gram-negative bacteria, mold, and yeasts in cloths that are washed infrequently, and "infrequently" for most people means not after every single use.
The problem compounds with exfoliating washcloths specifically. Textured or mesh-weave cloths have more surface area to trap debris, and the exfoliating friction that makes them feel effective also creates micro-abrasions in the skin that are more susceptible to any bacteria the cloth transfers back. The more aggressively a cloth exfoliates, the more relevant its cleanliness becomes.
What Makes a Better Alternative
The key variable is how quickly the tool dries between uses. A material that loses its moisture completely in 20 to 30 minutes after a shower doesn't give bacteria sustained conditions to colonize. That's the functional difference between a non-porous silicone or TPE tool and a fiber cloth, not a marketing distinction, a material one.
The scrub-dub® is made from zinc-infused thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a non-porous material that doesn't absorb water. After a shower, it dries completely rather than staying damp. The zinc compound protects the material from odor and degradation over time, the kind of breakdown that happens in tools that don't dry properly. Hang it through the loop after each use and it's dry well before your next shower.
The Exfoliation Side-by-Side
An exfoliating washcloth works through fabric drag, the textured surface creates friction across skin. This works well on the first use and degrades as the cloth wears and softens over time. Consistent pressure across different skin areas is also hard to control with a flexible cloth.
The scrub-dub bristles flex against the skin surface uniformly, producing consistent exfoliation contact without the tearing that comes from rough fabric on dry or sensitive skin. The bristles maintain their structure over a full year of use, so the exfoliation you get in month 10 is comparable to month 1.
For the scalp specifically, washcloths aren't designed to work through hair and make scalp contact. The scrub-dub's spike side is built for exactly that, working shampoo into the scalp, loosening buildup, and stimulating follicle circulation during a normal shampoo.
Practical Washcloth Hygiene If You're Not Ready to Switch
If you're going to keep using washcloths, the minimum standard for reasonable hygiene is washing them after every use. Most people don't do this because it's logistically inconvenient, which is the honest reason washcloths underperform on hygiene in practice, regardless of what the packaging implies about their exfoliating properties. Machine washing kills the bacteria, but the cloth immediately begins accumulating again with the next use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you actually wash a washcloth?
After every use, ideally. Dermatologists consistently recommend this and consistently acknowledge that most people don't do it. If you wash your washcloth every 3 to 4 uses, you're operating with a tool that's spent 48 to 72 hours accumulating bacteria in a warm, humid bathroom between washes. That's the actual hygiene reality of typical washcloth use.
Are microfiber washcloths better than terry cloth?
Microfiber dries faster than terry cloth, which reduces the window for bacterial growth. It's a meaningful improvement but not a complete solution, microfiber still retains moisture and still requires frequent washing. The drying advantage is real but doesn't close the gap with non-porous materials that lose moisture completely.
Can a body scrubber replace a washcloth for applying body wash?
Yes, and it distributes body wash more evenly because the bristle structure creates consistent contact across the skin surface rather than sliding fabric. Most people who make the switch don't find anything they were getting from the washcloth that they're missing.
Is an exfoliating washcloth too harsh for daily use?
For many people, yes. The friction from textured or mesh washcloths can cause redness and micro-irritation on sensitive or dry skin with daily use. The scrub-dub bristles are specifically designed to be gentle enough for daily use while still producing effective exfoliation, the flex of the bristles against skin distributes pressure differently than the drag of fabric.
The Replacement Most People Land On
Non-porous TPE, dries completely between showers, consistent exfoliation over 12 months, and a scalp side for hair care. The Scrub-Dub replaces the washcloth and the loofah in the same tool
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