There Was No Such Thing As Toilet Paper Back then in way back time, people would use leaves, moss, a rag or hay.
The Queen granted us a Royal Warrant in 1978 as a mark of recognition that Andrex® is a regular supplier of toilet tissue to the Royal households.
Wiping in the Medieval Times
Before toilet paper was even a concept, people just used whatever was available to wipe. This included items such as hay, wood shavings, corn cobs, and even iron cables. Ancient Romans used a sponge soaked in salt water that was shared by everyone.
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.
Henry VIII of England had people who were called "Grooms of Stool" whose job it was to wipe his bottom. During his reign, he had four such people, all of whom were knighted.
That's right, the royal bum wiper was actually one of the most highly regarded positions among the courtiers. Often, the Groom of the Stool was privy to secret information, which would lead to them being highly respected in the royal courts.
Queens had their own intimate ladies, and the office lapsed under Mary and Elizabeth I. So the last Groom of the Stool in the strict sense was possibly Sir Michael Stanhope, who served Edward VI.
Rope. During the 17th century, sailors out discovering the New World found a new use for frayed ropes. After each wipe, the frayed ends of the long ropes would hang in the sea to be “washed” between uses [*].
Before Toilet Paper
While things found in nature, such as moss, leaves, grass, hay, shells, and husks were most common, wealthier people might use wool or fabrics. In Ancient Rome, the custom was to use a sponge on a stick, usually shared between multiple people but soaked in saltwater or vinegar between uses.
The sponges, known as tersoriums, may have been used once or cleaned in a bucket of vinegar or salt water and reused, or they may have been used more like toilet brushes than toilet paper. Beyond the communal sponge, Greco-Romans also used moss or leaves and pieces of ceramic known as pessoi to perform cleansing.
In the late 15th century, Queen Isabella of Spain bragged that she had only bathed twice in her whole life. Queen Elizabeth I, too, reportedly bathed once a month, “whether she needed it or no”. Her successor, James VI and I, bore a great aversion to water and reportedly never bathed.
France, Portugal, Italy, Japan, Argentina, Venezuela, and Spain: Instead of toilet paper, people from these countries (most of them from Europe) usually have a bidet in their washrooms. A bidet like a toilet, but also includes a spout that streams water like a water fountain to rinse you clean.
Besides that, the plumbing in Egypt isn't always set up to accommodate balls of toilet paper. Egyptians prefer to use a shatafa, a little bidet sprayer, which may be attached to the toilet bowl or the wall via a small hose. A knob allows the user to turn on the spray of water and get things nice and clean down there.
According to reports, one of these items is her own personal supply of toilet roll. The Queen never travels without her toilet paper according to an anonymous source who went on 20 royal tours with the Royal Family. What's more, the Monarch is said to have some very strict rules about who can use it.
Leave the table without a fuss. If royals need to use the restroom during a meal, they don't announce their intentions. They simply say, “Excuse me,” and leave it at that. If they're not done eating, they cross the utensils so wait staff know not to take the plate.
It wasn't until the 17th or 18th centuries that people began cleansing themselves with (already printed-upon) paper. Before that, they used whatever was handy -- sticks, leaves, corn cobs, bits of cloth, their hands.
As per the salors and vikings, the way of wiping butt is using old or damaged anchor chords or cables as the toilet paper, which is similar to the ancient French did. But the viking used the shellfish to wipe their butts, which is so similar to what the people in ancient UK did.
Many Asian toilets don't use paper at all, they may have a hose as a bidet, or water pale, using their hands to clean, actually, you may find the Chinese are much closer to western style than other Asian cultures.
It has to be noted that in the beginning, toilet paper wasn't as widely-used. People would use newspapers instead, oblivious to the detrimental effects of the lead-heavy newspaper ink. The first toilet paper factory in the USSR was built in 1969 — that's eight years since they launched the first man into space.
And though sticks have been popular for cleaning the anus throughout history, ancient people wiped with many other materials, such as water, leaves, grass, stones, animal furs and seashells. In the Middle Ages, Morrison added, people also used moss, sedge, hay, straw and pieces of tapestry.
So, what did cowboys use for toilet paper? Well, it turns out they had a few options. Some would use whatever plant material was available, like leaves, grass, or even cactus. Others would opt for something a little more durable, like old newspapers or pages from a book.
The Headquarters: Buckingham Palace
Crown-owned, the palace—located in the City of Westminster—belongs to the ruling monarch at the time, a tradition that dates back to 1837. It has a total of 775 rooms, including 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms.
According to the Hampton Court Palace website, he and other royals sat atop a padded chair "covered in sheepskin, black velvet, and ribbons" lofted above a pewter chamber pot. This toilet was private, located in a so-called "stool room" that was attended to by a high-ranking courtier known as the Groom of the Stool.
4. "Toilet" Blame this word's French origin for why it's banned in royal circles. If you're looking for a restroom in Buckingham Palace, ask for the loo or the lavatory.