You Won’t Believe What Passed for Hygiene in the 1700s

The 1700s may have been a defining century for the birth of a new nation, but when it came to hygiene, things were downright dreadful. Colonial America was marked by a mixture of old-world superstition, emerging science, and a general lack of infrastructure. From dirty streets to flea-ridden wigs, the standard of personal and public cleanliness was astonishingly low by today’s standards. Life was hard, disease was rampant, and basic hygiene was often seen as a moral or religious concern rather than a medical one.

Let’s step into the past – and try not to hold your nose.

Bathing Was Rare and Rinsing Was the Norm

If you think daily showers are just part of being a civilized human, you’d be shocked by how infrequently colonial Americans bathed. Full-body baths were largely reserved for infants, and even then, it was more about toughening them up than washing them off. For adults, the typical “bath” meant using a basin, cloth, and a quick rinse of the face and hands in the morning – no soap, no full-body cleaning, and certainly no hot water on demand. Those who could afford tubs only used them for sponge baths. For most people, a dunk in a stream on a hot day was about as luxurious as it got.

Toilets Were Holes, and Sewage Was Everyone’s Problem

Forget indoor plumbing. Most colonial homes had outhouses or simple covered holes in the ground. Chamber pots were common and often dumped out the nearest window. Sanitation was primitive, and waste disposal methods often contaminated drinking water. Disease spread rapidly in this environment – typhoid, cholera, and dysentery were all common, especially in the summer. Rural families lived dangerously close to their water sources, and cities weren’t much better, with waste and animal droppings often filling the streets.

Colonial Cities Were Filthy and Diseased

American cities in the 1700s were anything but clean. Streets were packed with garbage, sewage, and animal waste. Public sanitation systems were practically nonexistent, making outbreaks of disease almost routine. Even military campaigns weren’t spared. At Valley Forge, more soldiers died of disease than combat. Dirty water and unsanitary living conditions took out two-thirds of Washington’s men during the brutal winter of 1777. Ironically, these same conditions hurt British troops in the South later in the war.

Doctors Debated Dirt—and Religion Filled the Gaps

Science in the 1700s was still catching up when it came to hygiene. While some physicians saw a connection between cleanliness and health, others had strange beliefs about bodily oils and natural defenses. Religion often stepped in to fill the void. For the Puritans, cleanliness was a virtue and a sign of moral righteousness. Bathing was thought to purify both the body and the soul, but only in private. Public baths were frowned upon as immoral and potentially corrupting. In their minds, clean people were more godly – and less likely to be poor.

Wigs, Lice, and Boiled Hairpieces

Colonial Americans shaved their heads to avoid lice infestations but then wore wigs made of human or animal hair. Wigs were fashionable among the upper class and were also thought to protect against vermin – though ironically, they often attracted them. Lice would infest wigs, leading to routine cleanings involving boiling water and potent fragrances like sassafras and bay leaves. Pomades used to style wigs actually drew in more bugs, creating a vicious (and itchy) cycle. Regular wig care was expensive, so many went longer between cleanings than they probably should have.

Teeth Were a Pain—Literally

Dental hygiene was practically nonexistent. People rarely cleaned their teeth, and toothaches were widespread. Remedies ranged from figs and chamomile to opium and alcohol for the pain. Tooth extractions were often done by blacksmiths or barbers, not dentists. Replacement teeth were another story – wood, ivory, and even human teeth sold by the poor were used to build dentures. George Washington’s famous false teeth weren’t wooden, as folklore suggests, but were made from animal teeth, wire, and metal. They were uncomfortable and reportedly changed the shape of his face.

Laundry Was Labor-Intensive and Rarely Done

Washing clothes in the 1700s was back-breaking work. Water had to be hauled by hand, heated over fire, and then used with lye soap – a caustic mix of ash, lye, and animal fat that was harsh enough to strip paint. As a result, most clothing went unwashed unless it was underwear or something that truly needed it. Soap was either imported at great cost or made at home using unpleasant materials and methods. The majority of people simply accepted wearing dirty clothes as part of life.

Bugs Were a Constant Companionship

Insects plagued every corner of colonial life. Captain John Smith wrote about being swarmed by mosquitoes and other biting bugs. Even George Washington preferred sleeping outdoors near a fire instead of in cabins crawling with fleas and lice. Some biting insects were so painful that Native Americans called them “living ashes.” Colonists battled vermin constantly, yet often failed to keep them at bay due to poor sanitation and cramped living quarters.

Grooming Tools Were Multi-Purpose and Surprisingly Ingenious

Colonial folks didn’t have a lot of specialized grooming products, but they made do. Archaeologists at Jamestown unearthed a silver “ear picker” that doubled as a toothpick, nail cleaner, and earwax scoop. Earwax itself was sometimes collected for practical uses like sealing thread. With few cosmetics or tools on hand, people made hygiene a multi-purpose task – even if it wasn’t all that clean.

Women’s Hygiene Had Its Own Challenges

In colonial America, women weren’t expected to shave, and most didn’t. Clothing covered the body so completely that there was no practical reason to remove body hair. Shaving was also considered dangerous and something only professionals should attempt. Some women used hair removal creams, though recipes often included dangerous ingredients like lime and arsenic. As for feminine hygiene, many believed women naturally emitted odors as a defense mechanism against unwanted male attention – an actual medical theory at the time.

Cleanliness Was a Gendered Expectation

While men could often get away with filth, women were expected to stay clean – at least in private. Cleanliness was considered a reflection of female virtue. Fathers, like Thomas Jefferson, made a point of lecturing their daughters about cleanliness and modesty. At the same time, doctors recommended bathing as a treatment for reproductive issues. Some even believed that bad smells from women had a biological purpose. In short, women were caught between strict expectations and limited resources to meet them.

Soldiers Needed Help Staying Clean

Even in the army, hygiene was a struggle. George Washington knew disease could decimate his troops faster than musket balls. He ordered soldiers to wash their hands and faces daily and their shirts weekly – but few followed through. To maintain even this minimal level of cleanliness, Washington relied on “followers” – camp laborers who cooked, cleaned, and did laundry for the soldiers. These unsung heroes included women, children, and anyone else willing to take on the dirty work.

Be Glad You Were Born Later

If nothing else, the hygiene of colonial America makes us appreciate the modern world just a little more. Running water, soap that doesn’t burn your skin, pest control, and regular dental care are all things we take for granted today. In the 1700s, cleanliness was a battle – one fought with boiling wigs, shared basins, and chamber pots emptied out windows. It was a world where even the cleanest people still probably stank by modern standards. So next time you step into a hot shower or toss your laundry in the wash, just be thankful you’re not scrubbing with lye and hauling water from the creek.