How Did People Clean Themselves Before Soap?

By Jurassic JennSep 15, 2024 10:57 AMScience
Share:
Roman city. Source: https://www.livescience.com/

Soap has a long history and a straightforward formula. Despite the modern convenience of soap for scrubbing off dirt, sweat, and grime, humans had other methods before its invention.

For centuries, water was the primary means of bathing. For instance, the Indus Valley Civilization, thriving in present-day Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan from 2600 to 1900 B.C., featured the Great Bath in Mohenjo-daro, an early steam bath. However, steam bathing had its limitations.

Judith Ridner, a historian at Mississippi State University, noted that before soap became common in personal hygiene, many individuals likely had a strong odor. Basic soap is a simple concoction—a combination of an alkali (a water-soluble compound) and a fat. Kristine Konkol, a chemist at Albany State University, explained that soap molecules have a water-loving head and an oil-loving tail, which helps lift dirt.

A diagram showing how surfactants (blue structures) remove dirt (brown blob) from the skin's surface.
A diagram showing how surfactants (blue structures) remove dirt (brown blob) from the skin's surface.

Ancient civilizations used premodern soaps with essential ingredients such as plants, animal bile, oils, sand, and wood ash as exfoliants. These early soaps are challenging for historians to trace because soap degrades over time, as Seth Rasmussen from North Dakota State University pointed out.

The first written records of soap-like substances are around 2500 B.C. in Mesopotamia. Clay tablets suggest that the Sumerians used a combination of water and sodium carbonate for cleaning. Later, the Akkadian Empire used plants like date palm and pine cone, ingredients that align closely with modern soap components.

Surprisingly, ancient and modern soaps are fundamentally similar. People's methods for making soap likely stemmed from accidental discoveries, such as cleaning greasy pans with plant ash or boiling animal fats with wood ash. These techniques date back to Babylon and ancient Egypt, where ingredients like natron, clay, and talc-based soapstone were documented.

The ancient Greeks and Romans used a different method for bathing, involving scented olive oils and a strigil to scrape off grime. However, this was more about masking odor than actual cleaning. Often, these oils contained aromatic plant extracts.

These soapy mixtures were primarily used for cleaning textiles, treating it more as an industrial process than a personal hygiene one. It wasn't until the early to mid-1800s that bathing with soap became more common in the Western world, due to factors such as the advent of inexpensive fats, industrial soap production, and increased focus on sterilization in hospitals during the Civil and Crimean wars.

Overall, these factors culminated in the mass market for soap that companies like Procter & Gamble in the U.S. leveraged, as Ridner explained.

Earlier, SSP wrote that a century-old experiment ensured the future of beer and whiskey.

Top Articles

Meaning of double rainbow as a spiritual sign from above

Oct 16, 2024 13:27 PM

Symbolism and meaning of the cricket as a spirit animal

Oct 15, 2024 13:01 PM

Meaning of the yellow butterfly. Symbolism and spiritual meaning of the encounter

Oct 15, 2024 15:05 PM

Keep seeing the number of angel 2222? Read its spiritual meaning

Oct 14, 2024 17:01 PM
More News

New Paths and Connections For Three Zodiac Signs

Mar 11, 2025 12:42 PM

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Seen on Low-Key Dinner Date in Park City

Mar 11, 2025 12:21 PM

Three zodiac signs will experience a surge of adventurous energy: horoscope for March 11

Mar 11, 2025 11:38 AM

Meghan Markle Reflects on Her Time in Suits Amid Resurgence

Mar 11, 2025 11:38 AM

Emily Osment and Jack Anthony Finalize Divorce After Five Months of Marriage

Mar 11, 2025 11:17 AM

Prioritizing long-term friendships and social circles: horoscope for the mid of March

Mar 11, 2025 10:35 AM

Alison Brie Finds Collaboration with Husband Dave Franco 'Very Attractive'

Mar 11, 2025 10:15 AM

Three zodiac signs that create lasting bonds in life and love

Mar 11, 2025 10:13 AM

Lady Gaga Reveals What Attracted Her to Michael Polansky in the First Place

Mar 11, 2025 09:52 AM

Nicole Kidman Is Taking a Break for the Rest of the Year

Mar 11, 2025 09:33 AM

Seeing a Bird at Night: Spiritual Meanings and Significance

Mar 11, 2025 09:32 AM

Jason Momoa Got DC's Lobo Role After Directly Texting James Gunn

Mar 11, 2025 09:09 AM

Three zodiac signs should explore mindfulness practices: horoscope for March 11

Mar 11, 2025 09:08 AM

Dreaming of a Pelican: Insights and Interpretations

Mar 11, 2025 08:47 AM

Robert Pattinson Praises The Drama Co-Star Zendaya for Helping Him Understand Tricky Scene

Mar 11, 2025 08:28 AM

The Three Zodiac Signs Ready to Embark on Impactful Hobbies

Mar 11, 2025 07:43 AM

Three zodiac signs should express their profound compassion: horoscope for March 11

Mar 11, 2025 07:22 AM

A surge of passion and excitement in romantic relationships: horoscope for the mid of March

Mar 11, 2025 07:04 AM

Three zodiac signs to focus on positive and hopeful thoughts only: horoscope for March 10

Mar 10, 2025 21:17 PM

Goose Spirit Animal: What Does a Goose Symbolize?

Mar 10, 2025 20:33 PM

Three zodiac signs will experience a burst of creative energy

Mar 10, 2025 20:12 PM

Unraveling the Mystery Behind Tent Dreams

Mar 10, 2025 19:54 PM

Andy Reid Discusses Travis Kelce's Decision Not to Retire

Mar 10, 2025 19:45 PM

These zodiac signs will find themselves in tune with their emotions: horoscope for this week

Mar 10, 2025 19:29 PM

Olivia Culpo Is Pregnant! Actress and Christian McCaffrey Are Expecting Their First Baby

Mar 10, 2025 19:10 PM

Aura Quartz: Meaning, Healing Properties, and Use

Mar 10, 2025 19:08 PM