Whatsit Wednesday: Wash hand

How do you wash up? Did you know that cultures vary, even within a country? When I first came to the Netherlands I first encountered something that I, at least, had not yet encountered in my life. It was called a “wash hand”. Now that I have been down at camp these past weeks I have seen plenty of them again, since almost every child brings one along in their toiletries for the camp week. 

A wash hand, simply put, is a wash cloth that you can put your hand into. So it looks like a small oven mit made of Terry cloth. It will have a little loop on the corner so that you can hang it up on a hook in the bathroom. And, as mentioned, almost everyone has one. It is used in the shower for cleaning your body, but can also be used at the camping grounds just for washing your face or doing a quick once over under your arms to freshen up. 

I have always found these to be much more useful than a simple wash cloth, which has to be folded or laid across some place to dry. And a wash cloth inevitably gets balled up in your hand as you try to use it when washing (my experience, in any case). But a wash hand fits over your hand so that you simply wash as you would naturally when using soap. 

It is simple. Perhaps it is in many countries and I was never aware of it. But I first encountered this wonderful tool when I came to the Netherlands. Have you heard of a wash hand? What is it called where you are from?