Abstract: A disposable, cloth-like towel of superior wet strength and absorbency comprises a scrim coated with a superabsorbent material, with one or more nonwoven fibrous webs bonded to the coated scrim. The superabsorbent coating preferably is formed by wetting the scrim with water or an aqueous adhesive, applying a solid hydrophilic polymer to the scrim, then applying a nonwoven absorbent cellulosic web to the coated scrim and drying the resulting composite laminate. Bonding of the scrim to the nonwoven fibrous web can be achieved by applying an adhesive to the side of the cellulosic web which is brought into contact with the coated scrim.