Ancient Egyptians used varied toilet systems based on wealth, with the rich having limestone or wooden seats over sand-filled containers, while the poor used simple wooden stools, all involving manual removal of waste collected in sand or pots, as they lacked modern flushing systems but valued cleanliness, even in private bathrooms.
In Ancient Egypt, around 3100 BC, having an indoor toilet showed a wealthy status. If you were rich, you sat on limestone while 'paying a visit'. If you were poor, you made do with a wooden stool with a hole in it. But regardless of class, below each seat was a pit filled with sand to collect the waste.
In the Middle Ages, moss was the wiping material of choice for many people, and a brisk trade developed bringing moss from the countryside to towns for this purpose. Straw was also sometimes used as a (rather less comfortable) alternative.
Nature makes great toilet paper
But it stands to reason early humans used whatever was on hand. Leaves, sticks, moss, sand and water were common choices, depending on early humans' environment. Once we developed agriculture, we had options like hay and corn husks.
They also can help on overnight bus/train rides. 5. Tissues: Egyptian people do not typically use toilet paper, and you often will not find it in bathrooms. Instead, they use a bidet, which is much more hygienic, and in my opinion, far superior to toilet paper!
Eating any food while on the toilet is forbidden. After defecating, the anus must be washed with water using the left hand, or an odd number of smooth stones or pebbles called jamrah or hijaarah (Sahih Al-Bukhari 161, Book 4, Hadith 27). Many jurists agree that toilet paper suffices in place of these stones.
Vikings (and really, anyone living outdoors before mass-produced paper) would have used whatever soft, absorbent natural material was around—moss, leaves, grass, snow, even smooth stones.
In many Amish homes, rags are a common toilet paper alternative. These rags are typically old clothes that have been worn out. After simple processing, they become practical cleaning tools.
Did you know before tp was invented in 1871, people used to wipe themselves with stones, clay, sponges, leaves, and all sorts of 'natural solutions'? Australians used to use waxed paper until Sorbent pioneered the first commercial roll of Dry Crepe Toilet Paper in 1952, going from not so soft, to extra soft.
Not all countries or cultures use toilet paper to wipe their bums. This can be because of cultures that have traditionally used alternatives to toilet paper and therefore never really used it or lack of access to toilet paper.
That said, for the later Middle Ages, removal of women's body hair--especially pubic hair--is amply discussed in two types of sources: medical texts and satire. That probably means some if not many Western women, or at least middle/upper class women, sought to remove body hair.
The Groom of the Stool was responsible for managing the king's personal hygiene, including wiping his rear after using the royal close stool (a portable toilet). But the role went far beyond that.
1. Mullein aka “cowboy toilet paper” Even hard men want a soft leaf. If the cowboys used the large velvety leaves of the mullein (Verbascum thapsus) plant while out on the range, then you can too!
Homosexuality in ancient Egypt was viewed ambiguously, with evidence suggesting it was sometimes accepted, tolerated, or even depicted in intimate art (like the tomb of Nyankh-khnum and Khnum-hotep) but also potentially considered a sin or moral offense, especially when a man took a passive role associated with femininity, contrasting with the emphasis on procreation and masculine power, though specific laws against it are absent.
Carved from durable timber and strategically positioned over a waste pit, the toilet reflects the Vikings' understanding of hygiene and waste management. The preservation of the wood, aided by the moist, anaerobic soil conditions, has allowed archaeologists to study its original construction in extraordinary detail.
If you can believe it, tooth brushing tools date way back to around 3500 BC! The Egyptians had created the cleaning utensil by fraying the ends of a twig, which created the “bristles.” There were even tombs in the ancient Egyptians that had contained these tooth-sticks right alongside their owners.
Cultural Differences in Toilet Paper Usage
In Asia, bidets are a popular alternative to toilet paper. In the Middle East, water is used for personal hygiene after using the toilet. In Africa, the usage of toilet paper is not as common and many people resort to alternatives such as wiping with water or cloths.
The most common Australian slang for toilet is dunny, especially for outdoor or older toilets, while loo is used more generally for indoor toilets, similar to UK usage. Other terms include thunderbox (often for rural/outdoor) and more informal/humorous options like throne, facilities, or the crapper, though "dunny" remains iconic, notes.
Plumbers often advise against Charmin because its plush, thick, multi-ply versions don't dissolve quickly, leading to stubborn clogs, especially in older pipes or septic systems, unlike thinner papers that break down easily and allow for smoother flow. While great for comfort, Charmin's durability and high absorbency make it prone to clumping and buildup, creating blockages that can cause significant plumbing problems and costly repairs.
The Amish wedding night will usually be spent in the bride's parent's home, as the couple will need to assist in clean up the following day. They will then spend their first months of marriage – their honeymoon – visiting relatives. (This is when most gifts they receive will be given.)
I don't know about all of them but 28 years ago before I left we did not use any store bought tampons or pads. Instead we used these ripped up towels and rags and they would be like this long and we would roll them four or five times and then we would use four safety pins and pin them to our homemade underwear.
Did you know that approximately 70% of the world's population doesn't use toilet paper? Instead, many cultures across Asia, Africa, and Southern Europe prefer water-based cleaning methods, such as bidets or other washing techniques, considering them more hygienic and environmentally friendly.
In Viking society, 12-year-old girls were considered young women, often involved in household labor, with some entering marriages, having rights like inheriting property, and facing risks like enslavement during raids, while Viking raids themselves targeted wealthy settlements for riches, sometimes involving violence, though their specific actions towards young girls varied by context.
Discovered in 1972 by construction workers in York, England, this 1,200-year-old Viking coprolite is the largest fossilized human excrement ever recorded. At 8 inches (20 cm) long and 2 inches (5 cm) wide, it was left behind by a Norse warrior who had a diet heavy in meat and bread—but also suffered from parasites.
Yes, it's highly likely there were gay people (men and women) among the Vikings, but their experiences differed greatly from modern LGBTQ+ identities, with same-sex acts sometimes tolerated if societal duties (marriage/children) were met, but passive roles in male-male sex stigmatized as unmanly (ergi), leading to insults and potential punishment, especially after Christianization, though evidence for lesbian relationships is scarce in sources, according to historians.