Looking for the cadillac of loofahs
January 31, 2015 7:44 AM Subscribe
What's the best thing I can use to wash my body?
I'm sick of buying loofahs that unravel in a month. Ideally it's something that lathers up nicely with soap and is not too abrasive. It doesn't have to be a loofah but \I prefer those over bath sponges which seem to absorb all the soap and feel rough.
Blow my mind (and body), Metafilter!
I'm sick of buying loofahs that unravel in a month. Ideally it's something that lathers up nicely with soap and is not too abrasive. It doesn't have to be a loofah but \I prefer those over bath sponges which seem to absorb all the soap and feel rough.
Blow my mind (and body), Metafilter!
Washcloth.
Buy eight really nice wash cloths (the fluffy ones will lather up great) and use a fresh one every shower. Eight will give you enough of a stash for laundry interval purposes.
Personally I've never understood why people want to keep rubbing a grody loofah that sits and moulders in the shower 24/7 all over themselves.
posted by phunniemee at 7:57 AM on January 31, 2015 [7 favorites]
Buy eight really nice wash cloths (the fluffy ones will lather up great) and use a fresh one every shower. Eight will give you enough of a stash for laundry interval purposes.
Personally I've never understood why people want to keep rubbing a grody loofah that sits and moulders in the shower 24/7 all over themselves.
posted by phunniemee at 7:57 AM on January 31, 2015 [7 favorites]
In my opinion there is nothing better than a giant tub of chemist's own brand aqueous cream and a cotton washcloth (a fresh one each day).
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 8:07 AM on January 31, 2015
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 8:07 AM on January 31, 2015
If you knit or crochet, you can go nuts with DIY loofahs, scrubbers, and washcloths. Cotton and acrylic yarn are both good options and machine washable. There are a ton of free patterns floating around, and because you make it yourself, it's fully customizable. I'm currently in love with a plain garter stitch washcloth.
(I've also attempted to crochet with sisal twine for its heavy-duty scrubbiness, but it can be tricky to find sufficiently thin twine in the hardware store.)
posted by Alioth at 8:14 AM on January 31, 2015
(I've also attempted to crochet with sisal twine for its heavy-duty scrubbiness, but it can be tricky to find sufficiently thin twine in the hardware store.)
posted by Alioth at 8:14 AM on January 31, 2015
I like these shower gloves - usually 2 pairs for $1 in the dollar stores. They last for ages, and it's really easy to use them, just put a dollop of shower gel on the wet glove and away you go.
posted by essexjan at 8:17 AM on January 31, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by essexjan at 8:17 AM on January 31, 2015 [3 favorites]
I also use the Salux cloths (Japanese Beauty Skin Towel), and at first it was just to have something long enough to do the two-handed back-scrub, but I keep using them because they dry completely with no nooks and crannies for creepy shit to grow - and then I also periodically machine wash them (in a lingerie bag so they don't scuff up my towels) with my towel laundry.
You certainly could, if you got too enthusiastic, take a layer of skin off with them, but you learn what kind of pressure to use pretty quickly.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:42 AM on January 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
You certainly could, if you got too enthusiastic, take a layer of skin off with them, but you learn what kind of pressure to use pretty quickly.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:42 AM on January 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
I have waffle-weave linen washcloths that I believe to be the Cadillac of exfoliating devices. They get softer with age, but of course still have the waffley texture.
posted by clavicle at 9:05 AM on January 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by clavicle at 9:05 AM on January 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The Salux towels, definitely. People often ask me to bring these back from Japan with me for them. (Even though you can buy them on Amazon.)
posted by ctmf at 9:07 AM on January 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by ctmf at 9:07 AM on January 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
I love those Salux cloths! I have sensitive skin and don't experience irritation when using them. They do come in different "strengths."
If you want some luxury, this glove is pretty great, too. I machine-wash mine.
posted by houseofdanie at 10:25 AM on January 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you want some luxury, this glove is pretty great, too. I machine-wash mine.
posted by houseofdanie at 10:25 AM on January 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Giving more love to the Salux Nylon Cloths. Beware of imitations!
posted by nanook at 10:56 AM on January 31, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by nanook at 10:56 AM on January 31, 2015 [3 favorites]
Target sells, or used to sell, these great washcloths with a special scrubbing layer on one side. They are in the dishcloth section for some reason. They are great. They work great, they're inexpensive, easy to find (except for how I can't find them on Target's website right now), and you throw them in with your bleachables, they don't need any special care.
posted by bleep at 11:03 AM on January 31, 2015
posted by bleep at 11:03 AM on January 31, 2015
Are you talking about the nylon mesh shower scrubby/poofy things? Or the actual organic "loofah"? I like the nylon ones, but the only reliable way I've found to get a good one is to buy a random one at the store that you like the feel of and use some embroidery floss (or dental floss) and a yarn needle to sew it together sturdily. You can find DIY videos around the net from people who make them from scratch, but I'm never that motivated--I find that they hold up OK if I just find the end and make sure it's well fastened down and add a few extra stitches to hold the middle together.
Then use a fisherman's knot to tie the two ends of the wrist loop together so they really won't come apart (works great on slippery nylon!).
posted by anaelith at 1:06 PM on January 31, 2015
Then use a fisherman's knot to tie the two ends of the wrist loop together so they really won't come apart (works great on slippery nylon!).
posted by anaelith at 1:06 PM on January 31, 2015
I go the other way, I take the the nylon mesh shower scrubby/poofy things and undo the cord holding them together, which results in a long tube of plastic mesh, then cut a square of the plastic mesh off the end and use that like a washcloth. It's not very durable but since you get like ten feet of the stuff for a dollar I just toss out the old square regularly after it's become frayed.
posted by XMLicious at 2:18 PM on January 31, 2015
posted by XMLicious at 2:18 PM on January 31, 2015
Best answer: Nthing Salux, they are the bomb. I wish I'd known about them years ago.
posted by RichardHenryYarbo at 3:23 PM on January 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by RichardHenryYarbo at 3:23 PM on January 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Has anyone mentioned Salux cloths?! (Because yes, Salux cloths, most definitely. Completely awesome.)
posted by sevensnowflakes at 5:51 PM on January 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by sevensnowflakes at 5:51 PM on January 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I have only one follow-up question...
Where has the Salux bath towel been for my whole life!?!?!
posted by joeyjoejoejr at 6:29 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Where has the Salux bath towel been for my whole life!?!?!
posted by joeyjoejoejr at 6:29 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by needs more cowbell at 7:50 AM on January 31, 2015 [18 favorites]