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facewasher


small square towel for washing the face or body: I used a facewasher to wipe the dirt from my arm.

Contributor's comments: 'Facewasher' is also used in central Victoria.

Contributor's comments: I notice in QLD it is called facewasher and in South Australia it is face flannel. But what is it called in other states? I lived most of my life in NSW (Sydney) and I knew it as a flannel. What about Victoria or Tasmania?

Contributor's comments: I grew up in Victoria - all the relatives in Vic and friends all refer to face washer. I have heard this term used frequently in NSW.

Contributor's comments: I and everyone I know in Melbourne uses the word facewasher. It surprises me that it's a regionalism. What do they write on the packets when they sell them if not facewasher?

Contributor's comments: [Perth informant] We used to use the term facewasher when younger. Often called a flannel.

Contributor's comments: This word is used by our family in southern NSW and must have a wider distribution than that shown on the map.



Contributor's comments: Used in Melbourne 1950s/1960s as well.

Contributor's comments: Common in Tas.

Contributor's comments: In Adelaide, the words Facewasher and Flannel are commonly used.

Contributor's comments: [face washer] small towelling square used to wash face (and other bits and bobs).

Contributor's comments: We have always used "washer" in SE QLD, though my husband, born in Sydney, sometimes says "facewasher".

Contributor's comments: I grew up with the term Face Cloth in southern NSW.

Contributor's comments: Surely not a regionalism? Apart from ex-Poms who insist on calling it a flannel, doesn't everyone refer to it as a facewasher?

Editor's comments: Actually, according to our surveys, "facewasher" is in use throughout the entire country. The terms that are regional are: "flannel", which is especially common in WA, SA and Tasmania, and "washer", especially common in Qld, NSW and the ACT.