6 Brutal Hygiene Truths From the Past That Would Leave Us Horrified Today

We’re so used to modern hygiene that it’s easy to forget how difficult self-care once was. With limited information and few reliable resources, people developed odd — and often unhygienic — habits. In this article, we explore some of the most surprising and baffling hygiene practices from history.

Victorian women wore rubber underwear during their periods.

For centuries, women managed their periods with homemade solutions — or sometimes with no products at all. Commercial absorbent options didn’t appear until the 19th century, and many early versions would seem quite unsettling today. One such example was rubber panties, also known as sanitary aprons — essentially underwear with a protective plate attached to the back. They worked, but comfort definitely wasn’t their strong suit.

The royal court had the Groom of the Stool.

One of the most controversial jobs in history was that of the Groom of the Stool. It was a special person who was responsible for overseeing and assisting the king in his toilet duties.

The position was first established by Henry VII, and during the reign of his son, Henry VIII, became highly honored. The job involved knowledge of very intimate aspects of the king’s life and often promised quick promotion.

Therefore, many sons of nobles and others applied for this job to improve their position at court. Some rose to secretaries with high salaries and privileges. It is believed that the name of the “profession” came from the toilet, which was always carried along in case the king would need it. Water, towels and a basin for washing were also carried with it.

Women used to cover their hair with animal fat.

In the Middle Ages, bear fat became particularly popular as a remedy against hair loss, which also stimulated hair growth. The rationale behind this practice was the belief that the thick fur of bears indicated some special property of their fat that could have a favorable effect on their hair.

Recipes often included bear fat mixed with other ingredients such as ash from wheat straw or grasses. However, due to over-hunting of bears in the following centuries, manufacturers began replacing it with pork fat while continuing to market it as “bear fat.”

In the 18th century, white underwear was a substitute for bathing.

At this time, there was a widespread belief that water had an extremely negative effect on health. People could take a bath only a few times in a lifetime. It is believed that Louis XIV bathed only twice in his lifetime. Even doctors gave conflicting advice about bathing, considering it undesirable. For example, bathing in warm water was considered dangerous to health because it opened the pores, and cold water could lead to chills and colds.

But one might think, “How so? Didn’t people wash and take care of themselves at all?” In fact, people of that time found a solution: they wore white linen underwear, which they changed frequently. It was believed that body hygiene depended a lot on it, as it supposedly absorbed grease and dirt from the body.

Ancient Rome had public toilets.

Although we are talking about the distant past, Rome was quite developed then: they even had a sewerage system. There were public toilets in the cities, which were usually located next to public baths.

However, an interesting feature of these establishments was that there were no dividing walls inside. People literally sat next to each other, without any privacy. Often these places became the scene of heated arguments and discussions. After all, what else is there to do when you sit with others for a long period of time, how can you entertain yourself and others?

In the 17th century, women removed their makeup with urine.

In past centuries, urine was commonly used as a cosmetic. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, women applied heavy foundation and then powdered it to hide imperfections. Because this makeup was difficult to remove, urine was considered the most effective solution.

Many women even washed their faces with the contents of chamber pots to keep their skin soft and fresh — but only their own urine was deemed suitable. Meanwhile, some “experts” of the time believed that the urine of older men could help treat acne.

Be sure to check out our other article, where we highlight the harsh truths of aristocratic life that reveal just how brutal it really was.