During the 1700s, maintaining personal hygiene required a delicate balance between practicality, religious beliefs, and social standing.
Men and women residing in colonial America attended to their bodily and clothing cleanliness with varying degrees of consistency, often facing illness and disorder as a consequence.
Despite the diverse characteristics of the original colonies, hygiene practices in the earliest American cities and rural settlements consistently left much to be desired. Unavoidable elements of daily life included smells, dirt, and waste.
Individuals from the middle and upper classes attempted to evade or conceal common nuisances such as insects, although success was limited.
Meanwhile, those from lower classes grappled with sheer survival. The absence of proper hygiene did not escape notice, as dirt and filth were considered indicative of poor manners and idleness.
Given the multitude of factors at play, let’s examine the hygiene norms of early colonial times.
Vermin Was A Big Problem.
Early settlers in the Americas voiced their complaints about pests. Captain John Smith, an explorer and settler who played a significant role in the Jamestown colony, extensively chronicled his impressions of the New World.
He discussed bothersome creatures such as “musketas and flies” and a particular insect known as a “Cacarooch,” referred to as such by the Spaniards, which infested chests with its foul-smelling excrement. Smith also made note of ants as a source of annoyance.
The colonists also had to contend with lice. George Washington, a prominent figure in American history and later a US president, mentioned that his blanket was infested with “double its Weight of Vermin such as Lice, Fleas, etc.”
During a journey through the Shenandoah Valley in 1748, Washington came across a bug-infested cabin. This experience prompted him to sleep outdoors near the fire during his future outings.
Christian missionary George Henry Loskiel faced a more severe problem with insects, which he referred to as “living ashes.”
These creatures were a significant nuisance for both humans and animals. The natives gave them this name because, according to Loskiel, their bites were as agonizing as being burned by red-hot ashes.
Protestantism’s View of Uncleanliness as Sin.
Some emphasized the value of bodily oils and other similar substances for maintaining health, while others focused on the importance of cleanliness in preventing diseases and illnesses.
The impact of religious beliefs on bathing habits and cleanliness during colonial America further complicated these attitudes.
Puritans associated lack of cleanliness with sin and the devil, which also had societal consequences. Cleanliness was closely tied to moral values, and those who engaged in regular bathing were seen as less likely to participate in sinful activities or wrongdoing.
They were also less likely to be impoverished; water was considered a purifying element that cleansed both the body and the mind from impurities.
Maintaining clean bodies, clothing, households, and settlements were all seen as contributing to spiritual well-being. However, the Puritans grappled with the notion that excessive bathing could potentially lead to moral degradation.
Public bathing facilities, in particular, were believed to be associated with disease and improper behavior.
Bathing Was A Use Of A Damp Cloth And A Bucket Of Water.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, full-body baths were infrequent. They were primarily given to infants, not necessarily for cleanliness, but to “toughen” them. Every morning, individuals — men, women, and children — cleaned their faces and hands. However, when it came to bathing, the process was quite minimal. People utilized a basin, cloth, and perhaps a sponge to wipe themselves down in places where they could ensure privacy. Baths might have been relatively frequent, but the use of soap was absent.
Swimming was another method, although immersions in nearby streams or lakes served more to cool off than to achieve cleanliness.
Bathtubs, a luxury affordable only to the well-off, were typically sized just enough for a sponge bath.
Anyone Could Be A Dentist.
During colonial America, the absence of bona fide dentists led to diverse professionals performing tooth extractions.
When faced with a troublesome tooth, individuals sought assistance from barbers, surgeons, apothecaries, and even blacksmiths.
To alleviate toothaches before resorting to such procedures, people turned to natural remedies such as figs, chamomile, alcohol, and opium to alleviate the discomfort.
The maintenance of oral hygiene was of minimal concern while teeth were still in their sockets; however, the replacement of extracted teeth was a common practice. On occasions, the removed tooth would be reinserted into its socket.
More frequently, dentures and implants were utilized as solutions. Replacement teeth were sourced from less fortunate individuals who were willing to part with their healthy teeth, while materials like wood, ivory, and metal were shaped to create dentures.
Among the prominent figures of the colonial era, George Washington stood out as an individual who wore dentures.
Crafted from a combination of metal, wire, and animal teeth, his dentures were a constant source of discomfort, leading to facial distortions.
The Solution To Lice Was Powdered Wig
Powdered wigs served as both a solution to and a source of the lice problem in colonial America. During that time, individuals of the middle and upper classes adopted the practice of wearing powdered wigs.
These wigs, crafted from human and animal hair, were favored by both men and women, often accompanied by keeping their own natural hair extremely short.
Given the prevalent issue of lice infestations, shaving one’s head emerged as a tactic to deter these pests from taking hold in hair.
However, the powdered wigs themselves weren’t immune to infestations. To maintain their cleanliness and presentable appearance, individuals regularly subjected their wigs to treatments or delegated this task to slaves and servants who would “dress” the wigs.
Ideally, wigs required weekly maintenance, although this process came at a considerable expense. There were instances where people would endure weeks or even months without a proper cleaning.
In cases where lice became problematic, boiling the wigs was a method employed to eliminate the infestation. Moreover, these wigs were often infused with fragrances like bergamot, bay leaves, and sassafras, which repelled bugs.
Powders and oils were also utilized to mask both the individual’s natural scent and the odor of the hair. However, it’s worth noting that the pomades used to style these wigs had a tendency to attract insects, leading them to become ensnared in the adhesive substance.
One Tool To Clean Ears And Teeth.
A silver ear-picker was unearthed by archaeologists within the confines of the original Jamestown fort in the 1990s.
This artifact, originating from the early 17th century, featured a pointed pick on one end and a diminutive scooping tool on the other.
These ear picks served multifunctional roles, including being employed as toothpicks, for manicuring fingernails, and fulfilling various cleanliness-related tasks.
The spoon-like aspect of the ear-picker potentially functioned in the extraction of earwax, while also proving valuable in harvesting this precious substance. In the absence of beeswax, earwax was administered to thread to avert its fraying.
Lye Soap Was Not Used For Personal Care But Clothing And Dishes.
While wealthier colonists might have indulged in imported, aromatic soaps from Europe, the majority of colonists either crafted their own soap or procured it locally.
Lye soap, a product derived from a blend of animal fat, lye, and ash, possessed abrasive qualities and was exclusively employed for scouring clothing, utensils, and various household areas during the colonial era.
The creation of lye soap followed an imprecise approach, disregarding precise measurements, and its production process was both time-intensive and odorous.
The utilization of lye soap introduced additional challenges to the task of laundry in colonial America. The harsh mixture, coupled with the demands of transporting water, kindling fires, wringing garments, and arranging items for drying, compounded the already strenuous chore.
Consequently, only the most heavily soiled attire — undergarments, aprons, and diapers — received any semblance of consistent washing
Dysentery Was Common.
In the early colonial era of America, a lack of proper sanitation was widespread, both in rural regions and densely populated areas.
This led to the rapid spread of diseases. Outhouses and containers for waste were often situated near water sources and living spaces, while streets could be lined with animal excrement, rubbish, and various forms of waste.
Diseases like dysentery, cholera, and typhoid fever were commonplace, especially during the sweltering summer months.
In 1676, an epidemic of the “bloody flux” struck Boston, claiming the lives of numerous children within the city. During that same year, Nathaniel Bacon Jr., the leader of Bacon’s Rebellion, was suddenly taken by the same disease.
Outbreaks of waterborne illnesses recurred frequently, affecting both civilians and soldiers. When George Washington and his forces set up camp at Valley Forge in December 1777, nearly two-thirds of his 2,000-strong army fell victim to dysentery, typhoid, and influenza. Military leaders were acutely aware of the hazards of campaigning during the summer months.
These disease outbreaks may have even contributed to the success of the colonial forces, as a significant number of British troops in the Southern colonies succumbed to various fevers.
Body Odor Was A Self-Defense Mechanism
Attitudes toward personal hygiene in colonial-era America exhibited a certain variability, yet several of the nation’s Founding Fathers expressed clear opinions regarding the cleanliness of women.
A notable example is Thomas Jefferson, who candidly advised his daughter, Martha, that “nothing is as off-putting to our gender as a lack of cleanliness and refinement in yours.”
During the late 18th century, medical professionals advocated for women to engage in bathing, primarily as a remedy for ailments related to the female reproductive system.
While historians acknowledged the prevailing notion that women’s natural state might cause them to emit disagreeable odors “in order to moderate the excessive ardor of males,” the emphasis remained on personal cleanliness as a paramount virtue.
Although women might employ their own bodily scents as a form of “defense… to ensure protection by making themselves as repugnant as conceivable,” the resulting malodor was universally regarded as unpleasant among women.
Conclusion
Hygiene practices in colonial America were influenced by practicality, religious beliefs, and societal norms. Challenges like vermin and disease affected all social classes. Religious views shaped attitudes toward cleanliness, while creative solutions were found, such as wigs and hygiene tools. Inadequate sanitation led to prevalent diseases like dysentery. Overall, hygiene in colonial times reflected the interplay of survival, culture, and societal expectations.
