Toilet Paper pt2

HINT: eww, ouch, or WTF; take your pick con’t

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, people of the Internet. I cannot thank you enough
for stopping by. It is time for another episode of
the What We Did Before Podcast, a show dedicated to,
well what we did before almost everything. It's so easy
to take for granted certain things until you don't have them.

(00:22):
You should be aware that this week's episode is a
continuation of last week's episode, and you will want to
go back cause it's an important episode. We dove into
the topic of what we did before toilet paper folks.
We've used everything from leaves and grass and moss and lichen,

(00:50):
cocoanut shells and husk fibers. We've looked at what the
medieval people did in the Renaissance era. Seashells are actually
a thing. As it turns out, stuff didn't get really
good until the advent of the newspaper and catalogs. Today,

(01:17):
we're going to pick it up on probably the most
tried and true method. There's a saying, be a man,
use your hand. Particularly in parts of South Asia, India,
Indonesia and the Middle East have traditionally used water in

(01:42):
their left hand for hygiene. The left hand is very important.
You do not want to mix those up, as the
right hand was reserved for eating, while the left was
designated for hygiene. Water was poured from a container. The

(02:09):
pros included thorough cleaning with no waste, but you required
a water source and there were cultural taboos associated with
using your hand for bum hygiene be four toilet paper.

(02:33):
People adapted to their environment and available materials. This led
to a diverse range of hygiene practices worldwide. Some like
bidets and water washing, remain in use today, while others,

(02:58):
such as the Roman sponge on a stick have faded
into history. Some other non traditional methods. The Native Americans
and early Europeans used rabbit and squirrel pelts. I can

(03:22):
imagine worse things and colder regions, people used soft animal furs,
especially rabbit pelts. Native Americans and early European settlers valued
squirrel and beaver pelts for their softness. Some were reused

(03:43):
after drying and brushing out debris v pros as they
were very soft and warm in winter, but there was
a limited supply and required hunting or trade. Sheep's wool
was used in Ancient Europe and the Middle East. During

(04:06):
Ancient Rome and Medieval European times, especially by wealthier classes.
Wool was soft and absorbent, often cut into strips for
easier handling. Some cultures even washed and re used wool
after cleaning. It was soft and insulating, reusable, but required

(04:33):
access to sheep and was expensive for lower classes. In
feudal Japan and medieval Europe, they also used duck and
goose down feathers. Feathers from ducks and geese were sometimes
used by wealthy They were extremely soft and comfortable, but

(04:57):
expensive and impractical for common use in Pacific islands. In
Southeast Asia, they relied primarily on coconut leaves. They were
used as both a wiping and scraping tool. Coconut leaves

(05:17):
were woven together for a better grip. Softened leaves were
preferred over fresh stiff ones. Pros were biodegradable, the original
green toilet paper. They were widely available in tropical regions.

(05:39):
It required preparation, though, to avoid rough edges. Speaking of
rough edges, in North America and rural Europe, they relied
on corn husks and cobs. Corn Husks were often dried
and softened before use. Corn cobs, especially dried and hollowed out,

(06:04):
were commonly used in nineteenth century America. They were readily
available on farms and durable, they also had a rough
texture and were uncomfortable if not softened. We'll have another
episode on how to soften a corn husk for bum

(06:27):
hygiene in Asia and Middle East and Europe. Hemp fibers
were used in ancient China and woven into soft cloths
for hygienic purposes. Jute fibers were popular in parts of
the Middle East and sometimes soaked in water for a

(06:49):
gentler feel. Both were durable and eco friendly, but were
coarse unless processed properly. Next, let's take a look at
some water based cleaning methods. Some public latrines in Rome

(07:10):
and Greece had small water channels running underneath, allowing direct
water cleansing after use. The ancient Egyptian pharaohs and nobles
used perfumed water basins for hygiene. These were highly hygienic
and effective, but were limited to cities with advanced plumbing.

(07:38):
Many cultures, including indigenous Americans, Vikings, and ancient Chinese, relied
on bathing in rivers or lakes after defecation. Some used
smooth river stones alongside the water. This was free and effective,

(07:58):
however seasonal not very practical in winter and alfred contamination
risk in crowded areas. The Roman communal la trains had
benches with holes, and users shared a tersorium, a sponge
on a stick. Cleaning involved rinsing the sponge in vinegar

(08:21):
or salt water. The pros where it was reusable and
more effective than dry materials, cons where it was easy
to spread disease and not very private. Wealthier Europeans used
chamber pots, often cleaned by servants, and seems like the

(08:44):
way to go about it. They wiped with fabric scraps
or pre cut pieces of linen and wool. This was convenient,
especially indoors, but smelly and required constant cleaning. By the
eighteenth and nineteenth century in America, in Europe they began

(09:05):
outhouse practices. They were common and often stocked with newspapers, catalogs,
or even books for wiping. Pine combs were sometimes used
in forested regions. Pros they were cheap and diy friendly.
Cons They exposed to elements and were uncomfortable in the winter. Lastly,

(09:31):
for today, let's take a look at some more unusual
and extreme methods. In ancient China and Japan, they used
smooth ceramic tiles In early China and Japan, polished ceramic
tiles were used to scrape and clean. Some were even
kept in small wooden holders for easy access. They were

(09:53):
reusable and had a smooth surface, however at a hard
texture and required after each use. In enforested regions and
indigenous cultures would use soft bark and wood shavings. Birch
bark was commonly used by Native Americans and softened by

(10:15):
soaking before use. Wood shavings were used in Scandinavia and Russia.
Pros were therebiodegradable and available in forests, but they could
be rough if not properly prepared. Folks. Unfortunately, that's all
the time we've got for today's episode of What we

(10:36):
Did Before toilet paper, and I'm sure I am glad
that we've got it today. Thank you so much for listening.
I can't thank you enough.