Outdated hygiene practices that are far from clean

Shoe Polish Was Shiny… But Deadly

In the Victorian era, shoe shiners earned a living making leather gleam. But their most popular polish contained nitrobenzene, a toxic chemical that made shoes sparkle—while slowly poisoning the workers.

Repeated exposure to nitrobenzene led to dizziness, fainting, and even death. Many were unaware of the danger, sacrificing their health to make boots shine.