History of Hygiene  The Romans had public baths. However, they had a three part process.  A person would go first to a cold bath, next a warm bath and finally a hot bath.

History of Hygiene

 Many Romans had jars of sweet smelling perfumes, mirrors, combs and hairpins.  Other material that the Romans used were tweezers and nail files.

History of Hygiene

 In ancient times, since their were no washing machines, clothes had to be washed by hand.  Clothes were placed in tubes and then a person or persons would get into the tub and start to step on the clothes in the tub.  The people who stepped into the tubes to wash clothes were called fullers.

History of Hygiene

 During the middle ages, clothing would be boiled in water and a root that had a sweet sent to it would be added to the water.  When clothes were not in use, then flower petals would be added to give additional sweet smells to the clothes.

History of Hygiene  Clothes were washed during Roman times in ammonia which is strong smelling. Since there were no clothes dryers, clothes were left outside to dry in the sun.  Soap finally did make an appearance but it was made of the fat from animals.

History of Hygiene  In Roman times shaving was done in public places such as a bath house.  The ancient Romans were very interested in cleanliness.  Shaving could be a very difficult experience for the individual since there could be pain involved.

History of Hygiene

 In ancient Egypt, both men and women would shave their heads in order to protect themselves from head lice.  Both men and women would wear what we call today a wig.

History of Hygiene

 In Roman times, there were public toilets that had water flowing underneath the depositories.  Some of the wealthy people of the empire had private toilet facilities in their homes.

History of Hygiene

 During the time of the Middle Ages, a Lord or Lady would have a tub made out of wood and at times would be lined with a cloth to protect against injury.  If the weather was hot, bathing in the tub would be outside. If it were winter, then the tub would be moved to a room where there was a fire place.

History of Hygiene

 Bathroom facilities were not part of the middle age castle.  Instead they would have a garderobe built into a castle wall. Many of these bathroom facilities had seats made of stone which would be very cold in the winter time.  These bathroom facilities were place in different areas inside the castle. Some were quite private with a partition but most were open with no privacy at all.

History of Hygiene

 Some bedrooms in the castles had what was known as a chamber pot that would be placed either under the bed or along side.  These chamber pots could be used at night.  During the middle ages there was no toilet paper so straw would be used.  In Roman times, a sponge on a stick was toilet paper.

History of Hygiene