The Romans used a variety of methods and tools to clean themselves and their clothes. Here are some of the common practices and items they used:
Bathing: The Romans were known for their elaborate bathing rituals. They built large public bathhouses called thermae, which were equipped with hot and cold water pools, steam rooms, and saunas. They would use a combination of warm water, oils, and scrapers called strigils to cleanse their bodies.
Water: Water played a vital role in Roman hygiene. They would often use buckets or basins filled with water for washing their hands, face, and other body parts. They also used water for rinsing their clothes.
Soap: The Romans had a basic form of soap known as "sapo" or "sapo Pompeius." It was made from animal fat and ashes. However, soap was not widely used for personal hygiene purposes and was more commonly used for laundering clothes.
Fullers: Fullers were specialized craftsmen responsible for cleaning and treating clothes. They would use a mixture of water, urine (which contains ammonia), and different cleaning agents to soak, scrub, and remove stains from garments. They would then rinse and dry the clothes.
Urine: Urine was a surprisingly useful substance in ancient Rome. It contained ammonia, which acted as a cleaning agent. Romans would collect urine and use it as a cleaning agent for various purposes, including washing clothes and tanning leather.
Lye: Lye, a strong alkaline substance, was occasionally used by Romans to assist in cleaning clothes. They would soak garments in a solution of lye and water, helping to remove dirt and stains.
It's important to note that hygiene practices varied among different social classes in ancient Rome. Wealthier Romans had more access to amenities like bathhouses, while the common people often relied on simpler methods of cleaning themselves and their clothes.