I LOVE hot towels. I just use a regular hand towel (a soft one, though) and soak it in VERY hot tap water along with my brush. I mix up my lather, apply the lather, and wrap the towel over the lather while I strop. This really helps to open up the pores and get the hair standing up. Then I wipe the lather away and re-lather.

I do this twice, then use the same towel at the end to wipe my face...except using cold water.

I just wash it in the washing machine.