“Showering is the most common form of bathing worldwide” notes an NIH library study*.

Showering removes sweat, oils, and microbes from skin, promotes circulation, refreshment and self-worth, and improves appearance.

Showering aided by a washcloth can improve hygiene, but if you had to chose one method over another, which would be primary?

Plainly, a shower beats a dampened washcloth to clean your body.

It is the shower not the washcloth that is primary, followed by rinsing and drying.

Likewise, “controlled showering” of hard floors, followed by rinsing and drying surpasses the washcloth equivalent (damp mopping). See link for equipment that enables the controlled showering method…

*Goto Y, Hayasaka S, Kurihara S, Nakamura Y. Physical and Mental Effects of Bathing: A Randomized Intervention Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018 Jun 7;2018:9521086. doi: 10.1155/2018/9521086. PMID: 29977318; PMCID: PMC6011066