Early Hygiene Practices Before Toilet Paper
For thousands of years, before the invention of toilet paper, people used whatever was available in their environment for cleaning themselves. The materials and methods varied widely based on geography, climate, culture, and social status:
- Natural Materials: Many cultures used natural items like leaves, grass, moss, or water. In forested areas, leaves and grass were common. For example, indigenous peoples in North America often used soft leaves, while in Japan, some used smooth wooden sticks or stones.
- Water: In many parts of the world, water has been the primary method of cleaning after defecation. This practice continues in many cultures today. The use of water was often supplemented with hands and sometimes a small container or ladle. The custom persists strongly in South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of the Mediterranean.
- Corncobs and Stones: In rural Europe and parts of early America, dried corncobs were frequently used as a cleaning tool due to their availability and texture. Small stones or ceramic pieces were also utilized in some regions.
- Paper Alternatives: In China, as early as the 6th century AD, paper was used for hygiene purposes. Historical records from the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) mention the use of specially made paper for this purpose, but it was not widespread among the general population due to the cost and limited availability of paper.
- Other Methods: In ancient Rome, a sponge on a stick called a tersorium soaked in saltwater or vinegar was used. Communal sponges were sometimes rinsed and reused, a practice that might seem unhygienic by modern standards. shutdown123