Wash Cloths in European Hotels?

[pogo791]

I can't resist weighing in on this thread.

I've stayed in hotels pretty much in every country in Europe, and my experience has been quite different from that of Nbodyhome - at least the hotels I've used seem to be amply supplied with washcloths. No matter whether the hotel was part of an American-owned chain, another international chain, or an independent, that little square of cloth was usually to be found in the bathroom. The hotels that didn't offer washcloths tended to be the very small family-owned hotels (and even then, there were many exceptions), the down-market ones, as well as the Eastern European ones - and now also in Eastern Europe, they are becoming more common. And even if a washcloth wasn't available, there was usually a small, extra hand towel that did the job.

And Bavaria is right about the different ways to flush the toilet in Europe. The simple reason for the variety is that we don't have a market leader in Europe anything like "American Standard" - pretty much each country, and to a large degree regions within a country, has its own toilet manufacturers, and obviously there are many different approaches to getting the job done. Not that I've found this to be a problem. Usually the solution is intuitive.

However, there is another WC-related topic where I've seen a lot of head-scratching among Americans in Europe, and that is getting the faucet to work when you want to wash your hands. I've just come back from Italy, where the toilets in many smaller restaurants and cafes have rather old plumbing. In these, you turn on the tap by pressing a lever with your foot. I've seen quite a number of American tourists waving their hands back and forth under the tap with a totally frustrated expression on their face, wondering if there is any way to get the water to flow ...

 

[#1MMFan]

I've always called it a facecloth.

I can't say I notice if hotels provide them or not. I use a sponge in preference to a facecloth (holds the soap better!!) and to be honest, the thought of using facecloths left by the hotel (even though I know they are washed!) does not feel "right" to me. I guess I just think of these items as being personal and not to be shared. I just thought Americans would use their own also.

 

[mickeysgal]

Look at it this way, the washcloth would be cleaning the dirty "naughty bits" as someone said, and the towel is drying the clean "bits".

Oh, ok - got it!

I'll tell ya' - this thread has been a eye-opener for me.

Which then leads me to another question. What is the true American standard? Do Americans when traveling within the States, bring their own or do they use whats provided in hotels? We've always used what the hotel provided, and have never brought our own. Are we the exception or the rule??

 

[Judy from Boise]

It would never occur to me to bring my own......but then again I don't use them at home. It is not that i consider them "personal"....but I do consider them "one use then wash", and i am not up for that much laundry at home! That is why they are a treat at a hotel. Someone else washes em

In Canada, Australia, Japan etc, I beleive I have always had them provided.

 

[Grandmouse]

Haven't been to Europe in 20 years, but back then our travel agent told us that wash cloths would not be provided in most European Hotels (Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, France were the countries we were visiting). I purchased a couple of inexpensive bundles of them at Wal-Mart and threw them away as we used them.

 

[MareQ]

As long as I don't have to do the "squat over a hole in the floor" thing, I'm ok with finding the lever/knob/chains.

They have that too - I believe they are called "China Footsteps" I was HORRIFIED when visting Italy once and seeing this public restroom. It literally in a china basin with an area of "traction" where your feet go and you squat over a hole... Oh and no doors and OF COURSE no toilet paper.

On another note - DH was flabbergasted 11 years ago when we were in London and he went to use the resrtroom and found out the "urinal" was just one big "troth" that the men lined up against and peed into - lol

 

[SandraVB79]

A European checking in!

In Europe, we have "wash clothes" but they tend to vary depending on what country you're in. And they are ususally not provided in hotels, we always take our own (although I usually use the "puffs", I have the big one for my body and a small one to use with Clinique-soap for my face)

In Belgium, a wash-cloth looks like... how would I decribe it? It's like an oven mitt made out of towel-material

See, they even have them with mickey on the:

The first time my mom was in the US, she didn't know what the little square towel was for. We don't have "towels" in that size.

 

[mickeysgal]

They have that too - I believe they are called "China Footsteps" I was HORRIFIED when visting Italy once and seeing this public restroom. It literally in a china basin with an area of "traction" where your feet go and you squat over a hole... Oh and no doors and OF COURSE no toilet paper.

What?? You've got to be kidding! In this day and age??

 

[Catananche]

I've always called it a facecloth.
QUOTE]

Maybe it's the usual Scottish term, as I know them as facecloths as well.

I think there may be a generation gap in their use here: when I worked with the elderly they tended to use cloths. I visit several different household bathrooms every day (at work) and seldom see a facecloth. Puffs and mitts are more common. I suspect most people just use their hands!

 

[SandraVB79]

Oh, those are the "French toilets". We always wonder if those snooty French women are not yucked by them... But apparantly they aren't...
I'd rather go behind a tree than using one of those French toilets!

 

[bavaria]

What?? You've got to be kidding! In this day and age??

they're still around in several countries in Europe. I've seen bench seating too, albeit with stalls

 

[Catananche]

They have that too - I believe they are called "China Footsteps" I was HORRIFIED when visting Italy once and seeing this public restroom. It literally in a china basin with an area of "traction" where your feet go and you squat over a hole... Oh and no doors and OF COURSE no toilet paper.

Squat toilets are particularly good fun on a moving train. Really brightens up a long journey: the trick is not to pee on your feet when the train jolts.

 

[bavaria]

and that folks is why I always carry a fresh pair of undies with me

 

[LuvOrlando]

Oh my

No wonder they think we're different. I can imagine how many Americans wander confused from bathrooms all over Europe...and how many amused Europeans watch giggling silently.

 

[bigmerle1966]

Squat toilets are particularly good fun on a moving train. Really brightens up a long journey: the trick is not to pee on your feet when the train jolts.

Oh lordy!

 

[wendy46001]

Squat toilets are particularly good fun on a moving train. Really brightens up a long journey: the trick is not to pee on your feet when the train jolts.

Oh that brings back memories...Now the most fun is when they put those bloody things in the Pub....squat pots and beer don’t mix

 

[Keggy]

We are planning a trip to Europe next summer (hopefully) and this is one of the first things I had come across, to not expect to see washcloths in hotels. Of course, they aren't common in my family so we won't miss them!

 

[Catananche]

Oh that brings back memories...Now the most fun is when they put those bloody things in the Pub....squat pots and beer don’t mix

Ooh yes, that would be a challenge!

 

[minniemarie]

Another European checking in.

I can't say I know many people who use wash cloths, I think it's considered less hygenic to use one unless you use a clean one every day.

To reassure anyone planning a visit to Scotland we don't squat over any holes in the ground , though I do know of a few people who have been caught short after and had to hide behind a shrub or two, I don't believe they had wash cloths with them!

 

[mickeysgal]

I can't say I know many people who use wash cloths, I think it's considered less hygenic to use one unless you use a clean one every day.

Thats just it. I can't imagine having to pack (for the average family of 4) 35 wash cloths for a week long trip.