Before the invention of modern toilet paper in 1857, humans around the world relied on a creative mix of what nature and their local environment provided. Common materials included:
Before mass-produced toilet paper, people in the 1800s used whatever was free, accessible, and semi-absorbent in their immediate environment. In North America, the most common outhouse option was the dried corn cob. Other frequent choices included leaves, hay, moss, grass, snow, and even old newspapers or catalogs.
Many Amish communities view manufactured toilet paper as a luxury. Depending on how strict the community is, they use repurposed paper (like old newspapers and catalogs), biodegradable natural materials (such as leaves and corn cobs), or standard store-bought toilet paper.
Medieval people wiped using whatever soft or scraping materials were readily available in their environment. Methods varied drastically by class and location, ranging from soft moss, grass, and leaves for peasants, to old fabric rags, hemp ropes, and wool for the wealthy.
Before the mass production of toilet paper in the 19th century, people relied on whatever materials were readily available. Depending on climate, wealth, and local geography, humans cleaned themselves using water, large leaves, moss, animal fur, snow, or even repurposed everyday objects like seashells and corncobs.
Female hygiene in the 1800s was vastly different from modern standards. It relied entirely on manual labor, homemade solutions, and sponge baths without indoor plumbing. Women managed their periods with reusable cloth pads, prioritized daily surface cleaning, and used heavy perfumes to mask body odor.
Ancient Romans did not use toilet paper; instead, they used running water in front of their toilets to clean themselves and a communal sea sponge attached to a stick, called a xylospongium or tersorium, to wipe.
Yes, modern kings wipe their own bottoms. Today's royals manage their own personal hygiene like everyone else.
Muslims traditionally and religiously use water to clean themselves after using the toilet. This practice, known as istinja, ensures a higher standard of hygiene and ritual purity.
The "poop rule" can refer to two completely different, highly popular concepts. Depending on whether you are talking about health or home organization, it refers to either digestion frequency or a viral decluttering hack.
Yes, roughly 70% of the world's population uses water instead of (or in combination with) toilet paper to clean themselves after a bowel movement. In many cultures, wiping with dry paper is considered unsanitary or insufficient.
No, Amish men do not typically use condoms. The use of artificial birth control is generally forbidden by religious doctrine in Amish communities, as large families are viewed as a blessing from God.
If an Amish mother is unable to breastfeed, she will typically use standard commercial infant formula with a bottle. In more traditional or rural communities, families may also rely on raw farm goat's milk (often diluted with water and a sweetener) or turn to wet-nursing—having another lactating mother in the family or community nurse the baby.
People in the 1800s certainly smelled different than we do today, largely due to a lack of indoor plumbing and frequent full-immersion baths. While body odor existed, most people were not nearly as foul as modern myths suggest; they utilized daily sponge baths, washed their undergarments regularly, and used perfume to stay fresh.
Instead of relying solely on toilet paper, Japan primarily uses high-tech electronic bidet toilets, commonly known as "Washlets". These smart toilets utilize built-in, adjustable streams of warm water to cleanse the user and often feature integrated warm-air dryers, completely eliminating the need for paper.
Marie Antoinette used "close-stools" (padded wooden chairs with built-in chamber pots) and personal portable potties known as bourdaloues in her private chambers. Later in her reign, she had an early, valve-operated flush toilet installed in her suite at the Palace of Versailles.
Yes, it is completely permissible in Islam for a husband and wife to shower or bathe together. In fact, it is considered a beautiful, intimate Sunnah that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) practiced with his wives.
Religions like Islam and Hinduism do not traditionally use toilet paper as a primary means of cleansing. Instead, their scriptures and cultural traditions mandate washing with water for maximum hygiene and ritual purity.
Saying "OMG" is generally not considered strictly haram (forbidden) in Islam, as it essentially means calling out to God. However, depending on context and intent, opinions can vary:
The "royal bedtime rule" is a traditional etiquette guideline dictating that guests and family members staying at a royal residence should not go to bed before the reigning monarch. It is considered "bad form" to turn in before the King retires for the evening.
Marie Antoinette had surprisingly frequent bathing habits for the 18th century, a practice initially criticized by French courtiers who viewed taking baths as an overly "German" custom. However, to preserve her modesty in a highly public royal court, she washed with water, perfumes, and herbs while wearing a full-length linen gown.
Yes, both Prince William and Prince Harry are circumcised.
Native American groups utilized a variety of practical, natural materials to clean themselves after defecating, depending on their environment and the season. Common tools included smooth river rocks, dried corn cobs, large leaves, moss, bundled grasses, and snow in winter. In some regions, water and ash were also employed for washing and sanitation.
In ancient Rome, pregnant slaves were primarily treated as valuable financial assets. Under Roman law, a child inherited the mother's enslaved status regardless of the father. Owners often provided better living conditions to ensure a healthy birth, though children were routinely put to work, sold, or kept for household service.
Roman Emperor Vespasian is the most famous historical figure to die from severe diarrhea. In 79 AD, while battling a sudden illness at his summer estate, the famously witty ruler famously joked about his impending mortality, declaring: "Dear me, I think I'm becoming a god".