Loofah Vs. Sponge Vs. Washcloth: Which Is Best?

If the beauty world is good for one thing, it's offering everyday people a wealth of options for items with which to take care of themselves. When bathing or generally washing up, for example, there are three main items people grab for to scrub their bodies: loofahs, body sponges, and washcloths. But which is best, and which should you really be using?

Many of us grew up using all three at some point — the wash cloth was likely the most used in the U.S. in the second half of the twentieth century per anecdotes on Quora — and that can leave us confused as adults as to which we should be using. No matter which you use, be sure to clean or replace them regularly. Loofahs get gross if not replaced, for example, and using a soured or otherwise germ-infested product will defeat the purpose of bathing to begin with.

Important in understanding the difference between these items is that body sponges are synthetic while loofahs are natural as they're made from gourds. Sponges, especially dish sponges but also body ones, are one of the dirtiest things we touch every day (via WebMD), but they're also typically more accessible to people. As long as they're replaced often, they're perfectly fine to use. Loofah gourds, on the other hand, are grown in warm, sunny climates and are dried until their insides become the scrubbable texture we're used to, per WEBA Natural Products.

Now, let's dive into which one you should be using.

No matter what time of day you take your shower, you want to ensure you're using the best products that will keep you clean and germ-free all day. Unfortunately, all of these products — body sponges, washcloths, and loofahs — can garner bacteria, though washcloths may hold and breed them more than the others due to their tightly-woven structure (via Public Goods). Still, on this basis alone, these products are even. Washcloths can be cleaned in the washer, and sponges and loofahs can be replaced.

However, this doesn't mean that one isn't better than the others. Washcloths are very sustainable because you can simply wash them, but they don't offer the same scrubbing power as loofahs. Both loofahs and sponges can be bought naturally — sponges come from the ocean while loofahs are grown — but loofahs are both very sustainable as they're grown and offer excellent scrubbing power (via WEBA Natural Products). As noted by a Quora user, loofahs are the best medium between scrubbing away dead skin and maintaining soapy water, so they clean while rejuvenating your skin.

Loofahs are also inexpensive, so replacing them isn't as costly as replacing other products. A three-pack of loofahs on Amazon can cost just $12, or $4 per loofah. So, which of these three products is your favorite, and which will you use going forward?