Strange Hygiene Habits From Medieval Times

Hygiene habits from Medieval times were very different than the habits we keep today. Medieval people, especially those in the peasant class faced all sorts of complications when it came to hygiene.

From parasites to toxic makeup to strange sleep habits, we’ll delve into all the crazy things you never knew about Medieval hygiene!

Private Bathtubs were for the Rich

While the upper class had bathtubs in their homes and servants to fill them with warm water, most middle-class people used public baths during Medieval times. Peasants, on the other hand, usually bathed outside in local streams or ponds—and sometimes not at all!

Most People Didn’t Use Soap

In Medieval times, soap was usually imported and expensive, so most people didn’t use soap. Plain water was commonly used, while some people added herbs or perfumes to enhance the smell. When soap was used, it was commonly made of fat or oil combined with lye.

Chamberpots and Outhouses

In an era before modern sanitation, very few homes had access to running water. This meant that chamberpots and outhouses were the common types of toilets of the day. Outhouses were used by castles.

The structures were outside the castle and consisted of a bench with a hole placed over an opening leading to a cesspit. Chamber pots were exactly that: pots kept in one’s bed chamber that would have to be emptied outdoors.

Toilet Paper hadn’t Been Invented Yet

Toilet paper definitely wasn’t a thing in the Medieval era. While some people used cloth scraps that they washed most opted for leaves and grass.