Jan 6, 2023 12:56 AM
https://www.zmescience.com/other/pieces/...-the-ages/
EXCERPT: . . . Meanwhile, the Vikings practiced excellent hygiene for their time and bathed regularly. There is some speculation that the Vikings sometimes used discarded pieces of sheep and lamb’s wool as a wiping cloth, but more interesting information comes from their ships. After all, the Vikings went on long boat trips, so how did they manage the deed? A Viking replica ship from a Danish museum sailed from Denmark to Ireland in as realistic fashion as possible. For pooping, they used a bucket that was then tossed overboard and they cleaned themselves with water and disinfectant, which was refilled after every use. As if sailboats weren’t tough enough, you also had to deal with this.
Vikings and other medieval cultures like the Anglo-Saxons and the Scottish also used moss (perhaps in conjunction with other things like shells) to wipe. Moss is soft and absorbent so it trumps many of the alternatives here, but it is not available in all landscapes.
In Hawaii or other areas with similar habitats, coconut husks and sea shells were used instead, and the Inuit, which didn’t have much of any vegetation, used moss when it was available, but also used snow — talk about a refreshing morning session!
Sailors commonly used something like a tow rag — a long piece of frayed rope that dangled in the water. The rope was tied to the “toilet” part of the ship and after sailors pooped, they would use the rope to wipe and then put it back in the ocean, letting the water do the cleaning.
When corn was moved from the Americas and became common in more parts of the world, corn cobs also became a common occurrence for wiping. Leaves and handfuls of straw were also used, and based on the customs, weather, and local availability, people would wipe themselves with wool, hemp, sand, ferns, rags, even wood shavings. Of course, pooping in or close to a river and then cleaning yourself with your hand was always an option.
Then, there was paper. Paper was first invented in the 2nd century BC in China, and toilet paper came no later than the 6th century when Chinese scholar Yan Zhitui carefully noted: “Paper on which there are quotations or commentaries from the Five Classics or the names of sages, I dare not use for toilet purposes”.
For centuries, China stayed ahead of the curve regarding toilet paper... (MORE - missing details
EXCERPT: . . . Meanwhile, the Vikings practiced excellent hygiene for their time and bathed regularly. There is some speculation that the Vikings sometimes used discarded pieces of sheep and lamb’s wool as a wiping cloth, but more interesting information comes from their ships. After all, the Vikings went on long boat trips, so how did they manage the deed? A Viking replica ship from a Danish museum sailed from Denmark to Ireland in as realistic fashion as possible. For pooping, they used a bucket that was then tossed overboard and they cleaned themselves with water and disinfectant, which was refilled after every use. As if sailboats weren’t tough enough, you also had to deal with this.
Vikings and other medieval cultures like the Anglo-Saxons and the Scottish also used moss (perhaps in conjunction with other things like shells) to wipe. Moss is soft and absorbent so it trumps many of the alternatives here, but it is not available in all landscapes.
In Hawaii or other areas with similar habitats, coconut husks and sea shells were used instead, and the Inuit, which didn’t have much of any vegetation, used moss when it was available, but also used snow — talk about a refreshing morning session!
Sailors commonly used something like a tow rag — a long piece of frayed rope that dangled in the water. The rope was tied to the “toilet” part of the ship and after sailors pooped, they would use the rope to wipe and then put it back in the ocean, letting the water do the cleaning.
When corn was moved from the Americas and became common in more parts of the world, corn cobs also became a common occurrence for wiping. Leaves and handfuls of straw were also used, and based on the customs, weather, and local availability, people would wipe themselves with wool, hemp, sand, ferns, rags, even wood shavings. Of course, pooping in or close to a river and then cleaning yourself with your hand was always an option.
Then, there was paper. Paper was first invented in the 2nd century BC in China, and toilet paper came no later than the 6th century when Chinese scholar Yan Zhitui carefully noted: “Paper on which there are quotations or commentaries from the Five Classics or the names of sages, I dare not use for toilet purposes”.
For centuries, China stayed ahead of the curve regarding toilet paper... (MORE - missing details
