Vintage Hygiene Practices That Are the Very Opposite of Clean

Clothes Were Soaked in Urine to Remove Stains

Before washing machines and detergents, people had to get creative with laundry. One surprisingly effective cleaning agent? Aged urine. The ammonia it contained helped break down stains and brighten fabric, making it a staple in ancient laundry routines.

As gross as it sounds, soaking clothes in pee was common practice. While we now have stain-removing pods and fabric softeners, at least we’re spared the scent of this former “miracle cleaner.”