Getting the Dirt Off

Ask, Jul/Aug 2004 by Dorman, Meg

Do you take a bath every night? (We hope so!) But throughout history, bathing has come in and out of fashion. In ancient Egypt or Rome, you might have bathed every day (although not alone). But if you lived in medieval Europe, you could go your whole life without taking a bath. Wouldn't you stink?

Yes!

Look Out for Splinters!

By the Middle Ages, public baths used wooden barrels lined with canvas, so bathers wouldn't get splinters. (Ouch!) But when the plague came, most of the bathhouses were shut down because people feared the spread of disease.

Share the Water

Soap didn't become popular until the 17th or 18th century. And it was so highly taxed that many people had to bathe without it. Pioneer families in America made their own soft lye soap; but it was harsh and could burn the eyes and skin. Water had to be heated over a fire and poured into a metal tub. Because the fuel for the fire was so expensive, families shared the bathwater to save money. (And back then people had really big families.)

Bathe like an Egyptian

Bathing began as a simple operation-just rinsing off in a nearby river. Ancient Egyptians bathed regularly in the Nile. (Of course, they had to keep an eye out for crocodiles.)

What's That Smell?

If people stopped bathing, didn't they, well, smell? You bet! Even rich people smelled bad. Queen Isabella of Castile (the one who helped Columbus) was proud to say she bathed only twice in her life, once when she was born and once when she married. In the 1500s Queen Elizabeth of England was known for her sensitive nose. She did not bathe often herself, but she did use lots of perfume to cover the odors of others. Many people carried pomanders, small sachets of sweet-smelling spices, to ward off disease-and the awful stink of those around them.

You'll Never Bathe Alone

The Romans built elaborate public baths where they would spend hours every day, playing sports, relaxing, and talking with their friends. Everyone bathed, rich and poor. But they didn't use soap. After exercising, bathers were rubbed with sand or pumice and coated with oil. Then the oily mess was scraped away with a strigil, a kind of dull blade-for that refreshing, scraped-clean feeling. Aah!

Pedal Faster!

Some people preferred showers to baths. But showers weren't practical until running water was pumped into most homes. One inventor tried to solve the problem with a bicycle-powered shower. The faster you pedaled, the cleaner you got.

Just Roll in the Mud

And for the ultimate in getting clean, some people bathe in-mud! It feels good, and the drying mud draws out the dirt. (But it sure is hard to keep your towels clean.)