Vintage Hygiene Practices That Are the Very Opposite of Clean

There Were No Utensils to Eat With

In medieval times, forks weren’t a thing, and knives and spoons were rare. Most people ate with their hands—hands that were rarely washed. Hygiene wasn’t a high priority, so meals were a bacteria buffet.

Between the grime under fingernails and the shared dishes, it’s a wonder anyone survived dinner. Let’s all take a moment to thank forks and soap.