Vintage Hygiene Practices That Are the Very Opposite of Clean

Women Used a Disinfectant Solution as Birth Control

In the early 20th century, when birth control was illegal in the U.S., women turned to desperate and dangerous alternatives. One of the most shocking was using Lysol—yes, the household disinfectant—as a form of feminine hygiene and pregnancy prevention.

Advertised as a miracle solution, Lysol was anything but safe. The harsh chemicals caused burns and infections, proving that marketing hype could be dangerously misleading.