1. To Wash or Not To Wash
Miss Johnson

2. Medieval Medicinal Beliefs
disease entered the body through the open pores in the skin
avoid stagnant air
keep the air fresh about you
no hot, soapy water which would open up your pores
sickness was an imbalance in the body
infection was supposed to float through the air like seeds
these airs can enter your body through any holes, like your pores, mouth, nose, etc.
if these airs entered your body, then they would push your body out of its natural balance
With every breath, these airs pass into the body and straight to the brain

3. Cleaning Terms Cleaning was important for two reasons
health
for stink; despite modern beliefs, stinking was not socially acceptable in Tudor times
Cleaned within their personal chambers
focused on their hair, skin, and teeth

4. Cleaning Practices
hands and face cleaned regularly with clean, cold water
Clean clothes were essential for health
no wool, leather, or silk touched the body
wore linen beneath other clothes as underwear
this underwear was washed regularly rather than the body
the more often you changed your underwear, the healthier and cleaner you are
Aristocrats owned many clothes and could change every day
Servants and labourers owned fewer articles of clothes and most likely changed about once a week
also rubbed themselves down with a linen cloth

5. Bathing Baths Bathing in running water
public bath houses south of the river Thames in London
the Roman baths in the town of Bath
the royal baths
perceived health benefits
space for socializing
gateway to a brothel
washing
Bathing in running water

7. Perfume Smells cause alterations to the body
bath smells can make you ill
other smells can cause other effects
rosemary causes greater memory retention
lavender causes relaxation
Most couldn’t afford the expensive perfume oils
however, many could still find smells through natural sources
natural insecticides: tansy, rue, wormwood
fumigation: rosemary, marjoram, charcoal
sweet smell: roses and flowers
Church used incense
frankincense was imported and used for key religious days
Oil began to be replaced by distilled ‘waters’
water was infused with herbs
Rose oil and water was a courtly body perfume

8. Teeth Care active oral hygiene regime
rinsed out the mouth first thing in the morning
polite to use a toothpick to clean teeth
used powder to clean and freshen teeth
soot, chalk, salt, burnt rosemary wood, cloves, alabaster, civet, musk
tooth cloths used to rub both teeth and tongue

9. Hair Care hair was combed every day
removed any possible head lice or fleas
stylized hair
Washing hair unusual but not unheard of
rinsed in cold, herb-scented water

10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Baths,_Strand_Lane

11. basic clothing was a luxury
Aristocrats
owned several dozen shirts
changed once a day
Servants
a leather doublet
a pair of hose
three canvas shirts
changed weekly
servants were better dressed than independent labouring people
basic clothing was a luxury
shirts, smocks, under-breeches, hose, ruffs, cuffs, bands, coifs, and caps