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History books may mention a plague or two and warn us about health hazards of the past, but they rarely dive deep into the truly grim aspects of history. The reason for this might be that if we saw the full extent of how revolting history was, many of the figures—prominent or otherwise—would lose their appeal. If you're someone who values cleanliness, consider yourself fortunate to have been born in a time when hygiene was taken more seriously.
10. People in Medieval Times Bathed Only Once a Week
The Middle Ages are a fascinating chapter in the history of hygiene. While they lacked many of the conveniences we take for granted, they did show some improvements in cleanliness compared to previous eras. They occasionally made attempts at basic plumbing and strived to maintain some level of cleanliness.
That said, their standards would likely seem shocking to us today, as they bathed only about once a week. With no air conditioning during the sweltering summer and a lifestyle spent working outdoors, one can only imagine the odors. To make matters worse, unless they were wealthy, most people had to bathe in public bathhouses. On the bright side, they had already figured out soap, often made from animal fat, and added dried herbs to make their baths smell better, which was a small comfort in an otherwise unpleasant routine.
9. Ancient Romans Used Urine to Whiten Teeth & Clean Clothes
The Ancient Romans were quite advanced for their time when it came to hygiene and public infrastructure. They understood early chemical properties, which led them to discover that ammonia is found in urine, making it an effective cleaning agent. Today, we still use ammonia for cleaning, but thankfully, we’ve figured out more hygienic ways to obtain it.
Unfortunately, the Romans didn’t have the means to extract ammonia and simply used fresh urine. They used it to whiten their teeth, marking them as some of the first people to seek that perfect white smile. Additionally, they cleaned their clothes with urine, which might seem appalling to us today. But despite the gross factor, we should credit them for having an early grasp on what would become a crucial chemical in modern cleaning.
8. Having More Than a Few Outfits Was a True Luxury
Today, it’s common to hear complaints about having ‘too many clothes’ when our closets are full. Women, in particular, are stereotyped as having numerous outfits. This gives people the ability to stay in clean clothes and enjoy a wide variety of styles. However, if you were to travel back in time, you'd find that the past was a much more monotonous and dull place when it came to fashion and personal wardrobe choices.
Until the 1700s, women typically owned only two to four changes of clothes, and men often had even less. If you traveled further back to the Middle Ages, you'd find that most people had only two outfits, and fashion wasn’t much of a concern. These two outfits served purely practical purposes—one worn while the other was being washed. And then, the cycle would begin again.
7. Wigs Made from Animal Hair Were Rarely Properly Cleaned
Wigs today are vastly different from those in history. Many are crafted from real, high-quality human hair, which undergoes rigorous cleaning and safety procedures, making them completely hygienic. Some wigs are so well-made that people can wear them for years without anyone noticing. This is a far cry from the wigs of the past, which were often made from animal hair.
Indeed, most ancient wigs, including powdered wigs of more recent centuries, were typically made from horsehair. These wigs were difficult to clean properly, and they often became breeding grounds for lice. Interestingly, many people in ancient times considered wigs as a protective shield during lice outbreaks. In fact, during certain periods of ancient Rome, it was common to shave your head and wear a wig so the lice would infest the wig instead of your scalp.
6. The Gross Origin of “Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater”
Ever wondered about the meaning behind the phrase “Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater” or its origins? It essentially means that you shouldn't discard something that appears bad without considering that there may still be something valuable within. This expression can be traced back to an old German proverb, but it was first recorded in English, inspired by a practice on the American frontier. At the time, settlers had limited knowledge of hygiene, lacked access to sufficient water, and made some poor health decisions.
Once a week, usually the night before church, families on the American frontier would gather enough water for bathing, preparing to ‘clean’ themselves. Pa, likely the dirtiest, would bathe first. Next, Ma would bathe, followed by the oldest to the youngest children. In some families, the boys went first, followed by the girls in order of age, but the baby was always bathed last. Given this routine, it’s not surprising that many families on the frontier lost children before they reached adulthood.
5. The Thames Once Became a River of Human Waste
People often complain about the pollution in modern rivers and how they have changed over time. A prime example is the Thames. While it’s not completely awful now, it certainly wouldn't be a desirable place for a swim. However, when comparing it to its past, we see a far worse state of affairs, especially when it reached its lowest point.
In the summer of 1859, London faced one of its worst crises in history. Although some plumbing existed, much of the waste from the plumbing system was directly dumped into the Thames. Those without modern plumbing would dispose of waste in the nearest body of water, and in London, that meant the Thames. The river became a thick, brown sludge of human waste that could hardly flow. The smell was so overpowering that people could taste its nauseating stench from miles away. This infamous summer, known as the 'Great Stink,' eventually led to reforms to reduce the dumping of waste into the river.
4. The Roads Were Covered in Horse Manure
Today, potholes are a common complaint, but in the past, city streets were plagued with far grosser issues. Ever wondered why so many people wore boots back then? It was because of all the horse manure covering the roads. If you’ve ever cleaned out a horse's stall, you know that just dealing with one day’s worth of manure can be a truly unpleasant task.
Without cars around and with horses being the primary mode of transportation, you can imagine the sheer amount of horse manure in the streets. While cities did try to address the problem, there was only so much that could be done to prevent the mess. By 1894, cities like London had found themselves in a full-blown crisis. The streets were overflowing with waste, and the efforts to clean them simply couldn’t keep up.
The situation only got worse with the increasing use of animals for transporting people and goods—since there were no cars in sight—and as smaller cities grew rapidly. But things were even worse in medieval times. Back then, there were open sewers and no plumbing systems, so the streets were even more inundated with horse manure.
3. The Black Plague Happened Because People Were Unsanitary
Many factors are blamed for the Black Plague, including the widespread killing of cats, which supposedly led to an increase in rats. While there is some truth in this theory, it's unlikely that the absence of cats would have saved people from the sheer volume of rats and filth they lived with. Back in the time of the Black Plague, most people simply dumped their garbage outside their homes, occasionally clearing it when the smell became unbearable. Some cities tried to mandate street cleaning, but enforcement was lax, and people often solved the problem by tossing everything into nearby rivers.
Even worse, while it's not true that people just threw their waste into the streets as some legends suggest, they weren’t exactly careful with it either. The poor often discarded their waste into the nearest river, while the wealthy with land typically had a cesspit that wasn’t properly covered, where they threw all their waste, letting it accumulate into a foul mess. Some people even made a living by emptying these pits when they became too full, and were compensated well for the unpleasant task.
2. Ancient Roman Toilets: Rats, Methane Explosions, and Poop Sponge Sticks
Ancient Rome is often praised for its impressive public plumbing system, but in reality, it wasn’t nearly as advanced as we might think. To their credit, the Romans did have a better system than most of the world at the time, but that doesn't mean it was anything close to comfortable or hygienic.
The wide pipes used in their plumbing systems made it easy for rats to scurry in and out, sometimes even while you were using the toilet. It wasn’t uncommon for someone to get bitten by a rat while doing their business. To make matters worse, public toilets were sometimes plagued by methane buildup, causing the pipes to burst into flames. And if you thought wiping was bad, Romans used a communal sponge on a stick, rinsing it in water before passing it on to the next unfortunate soul.
1. Deodorant and Mouthwash: Modern-Day Essentials
In today's world, skipping your morning shower or missing deodorant leaves many feeling unclean and self-conscious about how others perceive them. Mouthwash, especially after meals that leave a strong scent like garlic, has become a regular part of the morning routine. These personal care practices are so ingrained in our daily lives that we hardly think twice about them. But not too long ago, such habits were anything but common.
Deodorant didn’t make its debut until 1888, and, like all new products, it wasn’t immediately adopted by everyone. In fact, back then, personal hygiene wasn’t a major concern, and it took direct advertising campaigns telling people how unpleasant they were for deodorant to catch on. Mouthwash, too, is a relatively recent invention, created in 1878. Dr. Joseph Lawrence, recognizing an opportunity, invented Listerine and marketed it by creating the concept of 'halitosis'—a fancy name for bad breath. Through this tactic, he convinced the public that bad breath was a serious issue they should care about.
