Episode 259 was on Cleanliess in Tudor England: How our Tudor Friends kept clean in a world without running water and hot showers. From Taking the Waters to spongebaths, we discuss it all…
Listen below, or read the Very Rough Transcript.
And here are some related episodes:
Episode 255: Privacy in Tudor England
A Very Rough Transcript on Episode 261: Cleanliness in Tudor England
 Hey, friend and welcome to the Renaissance English History podcast, a part of the Agora Podcast Network and the original Tudor History Podcast Telling stories of Tudor England since 2009. This is episode 260. We are talking about Tudor hygiene. how the Tudors kept clean, how the Tudors took care of themselves.
hygienically, all of that kind of good stuff. So there is a, a really great book and TV series. If you have been around Tudor history for a while, you’ve heard of Ruth Goodman and the Tudor Monastery Farm and TV show and all of that. Uh, if you are newer to Tudor history, you might not have discovered those books, uh, and Ruth Goodman yet.
She writes a lot on daily life of the tutors and, you know, just kind of how normal people had lived. And one of the things that comes up often in her books is hygiene. Um, there is this. idea that personal hygiene at the time didn’t matter, that people were stinky, unaware of basic hygiene, and that is not the case.
So far from being indifferent to cleanliness, medieval and Tudor people were actually very concerned about how they smelled and presented themselves. As we uncover their daily rituals, we will see how people of this period went to great lengths to stay fresh, even without modern conveniences.
I have to say that I wanted to do this episode, not only it’s been on my list for a while to do, but I, I just got done reading a biography of Ben Franklin. I’ve read a couple of biographies of Ben Franklin before.
He’s a personal hero of mine. He’s a personal hero of a lot of people, uh, but one thing I read about him was that he did something called air baths, which was basically hanging out in the buff. For like 20 minutes in the morning, he would have his windows open. So I’m not sure if the neighbors got a show or what.
Uh, and he believed it cleaned out his pores. He was a really big fan of the air bath. And it got me thinking about how You know, ideas change of what is considered hygienic, how people keep clean, everything like that.
So I decided to dig this topic up and do an episode. So here we are. You can thank Ben Franklin for this episode, as Ben Franklin can be thanked for so very much in our lives, I say, as I’m reading my script with bifocals. Anyway, the, he invented bifocals, if you didn’t know that, okay. Moving on, the Tudor approach to hygiene was deeply rooted in the medical beliefs of the time.
Central to this understanding was the miasma theory of disease, which held that bad air or foul odors carried illness. These were known as miasmas, and these
toxic vapors were thought to enter the body through the skin or lungs, spreading diseases like the plague. As a result, people were particularly cautious about keeping their pores closed and the air around them smelling pleasant.
The Tudor physician Thomas Moulton wrote in the mid 1500s, He was a staunch advocate of avoiding full body baths. He warned, use no baths or stove nor sweat too much, for all openeth the pores of a man’s body and maketh the venomous air to enter and for to infect the blood. This belief translated into everyday practices.
While sponge baths and clean linen were considered safe, full immersion in water was often viewed with suspicion. People feared that open pores would make the body vulnerable to corrupt air, potentially leading to outbreaks of sweating sickness or the plague. But it wasn’t just about health. Social dynamics also revolved around the idea of a personal scent.
A good smell was associated with moral virtue and proper behavior, while bad odors hinted at laziness, poor manners, or even lack thereof. Moral corruption. People cared about how they smelled both for health reasons and because they wanted to make it pleasant to be around them. There were social penalties for smelling bad, and cleanliness often marked one’s status, setting the well off apart from those who could not afford regular washing or scented herbs.
For most people in the Middle Ages and Tudor period. Sponge baths were the norm, like we talked about, and daily washing focused on three key areas, the face, the hands, and the feet. The typical approach involved using a linen cloth soaked in water to scrub the skin. These sponge baths were done using small basins of water, which were often scented with herbs to leave a pleasant aroma.
The washing water wasn’t just any plain water. Oh, no, no, no. It was often infused with herbs like sage, rosemary, or if you were very well to do, orange peels. You could get that from Spain. Adding both fragrance and supposed medicinal benefits.
Sage, for example, was believed to promote general health. Rosemary was considered invigorating. The combination of herbal waters not only helped to wash away the dirt and sweat, but also provided a more pleasant scent, which of course was crucial given the importance of avoiding bad air. Feet washing was another key part of the morning routine.
Unwashed feet were thought to lead to infections. or unclean humors entering the body. Tudor stockings were usually made of breathable wool and shoes were crafted from natural leather, both of which allowed air to circulate. This helped to minimize sweat buildup and reduced odors, which was a far cry from problems associated with modern synthetic shoes that trap moisture.
Wool and leather’s natural breathability not only kept Cooler, but also discouraged fungal infections, making Tudor footwear surprisingly efficient at maintaining foot hygiene. When it came to skin care, the Tudors weren’t just scrubbing dirt away, they also paid attention to maintaining clear skin. Sir Hugh Platt wrote a popular household manual called Delights for Ladies in 1600, and it offers a range of skin care remedies.
If you were dealing with pimples or other blemishes, there were lots of treatments available. Platt’s gentler options included a mix of salt and lemon juice dabbed onto the skin with a linen cloth to reduce redness. For more stubborn cases, there were stronger concoctions. One of the most intense remedies involved grinding brimstone with oil of turpentine and applying it directly to the skin, followed by a salve made from the thick oil of butter.
Platt claimed that this would help to heal the skin, but the process was certainly not for the faint of heart. Daily sponge baths, clean linens and herbal washes were fundamental to the Tudor idea of cleanliness. These seemingly simple routines were rooted in the broader beliefs about health, safety, and social etiquette, essential aspects of everyday life that showed just how much hygiene mattered to the people of this period.
While, like we said, daily hygiene involved sponge baths, full body baths were far less common, yet they weren’t entirely unheard of. people did bathe, particularly if you were wealthy. So royals like Henry had access to portable hooped tubs that traveled with them wherever they went. These very large barrel like tubs were lined with linens that could be filled with water brought in by servants. While baths were cumbersome to prepare, they did allow for a more thorough cleanse, making them a luxurious treat rather than a regular ritual.
Public baths also played a role in Tudor London. And I did an episode several years ago. I think it was called Taking the Waters. I will find the link and put it in the show notes. And it talked about the bath houses and how people went to the springs and all of that. So bathhouses reopened in 1564.
They were closed during earlier waves of the plague. There were a lot of bathhouses in Southwark, for example. They offered communal bathing, but they were often viewed with suspicion because they were associated with vice and disease. By the time of Elizabeth’s reign, Spa towns like Bath were known for their healing waters.
Queen Elizabeth herself enjoyed the occasional soak in the private baths at Hampton Court. Despite this, Elizabeth famously admitted to bathing only once a month by choice. This was likely influenced by concerns about opening the pores to potentially harmful air rather than a disregard for hygiene. For those who couldn’t access baths or water easily, there was a clever alternative called dry bathing.
This practice involved rubbing the skin vigorously with a coarse linen cloth to remove dirt and sweat. Ruth Goodman in her books on how to live like a tutor actually replicated this method and she found it to be surprisingly effective. She also said that when linen was changed regularly there was minimal body odor even after several weeks without a traditional bath.
Linen’s natural antibacterial properties actually contribute to this success. Reinforcing the idea that frequent changes of clothing rather than constant immersion in water were key to maintaining personal cleanliness. And people did change their linen much more regularly than their top gowns.
Let’s talk about tooth care. So. So tooth care in tutor, England was surprisingly thoughtful, even. Even if the methods were quite different from our modern ones. Tooth cleaning typically involved rubbing the teeth with a cloth rather than. Using a brush. Tutor tooth powders were made from. Some common substances, like such salt, chalk and clothes. Globes. So it often collected from candle flames acted. As a gentle, abrasive, helping to scrub away the stains and. Odors. Salt and chalk we’re common ingredients as well. Well each providing a mild scouring effect. Cloves. On the other hand were used not only for their nice scent, but also their. Their pain, relieving properties, offering some relief for sore. Um, gums. Despite these efforts, dental health wasn’t. Uniform across social classes. The wealthy, like Elizabeth faced signet. Significant dental challenges largely due to their heavy consumption. Of sugar, which was a luxury item. Elizabeth. I was notorious for her sweet tooth indulging in sugary confections. Actions that were popular at court. By the end of her reign, her teeth had decayed. Significantly reportedly turning black.
Paul, hence. A German traveler visiting her court commented on her reliance on dentures. In contrast. Interest common people who had much less access to sugar actually enjoyed. Better dental health. Uh, and probably had better dental. It’ll help than we do today with our sugary diets. Archeological. Evidence shows that many tutors had relatively strong and healthy. Teeth with much less decay than there Monarch. Monarch who was consuming a lot of sugar. What about perfume? Hume. Since we’re not just about smelling at nice. They were believed. to have significant health and spiritual benefits. People carried Palm Anders around. They were small perforated container. Stainers filled with centered herbs or solid perfume balls. These Palm Anders could be tied around the waist or hung from a chain around the neck. Allowing the wearer to bring the scent to their nose when needed. This wasn’t just for comfort.
It was thought to be a defense against a Miami. Miasmas again, everything comes back to my asthma’s. The use of. Of perfumed waters was another common practice, particularly among the wealthy. Healthy waters infused with herbs like lavender, Rosemary, and rose. We’re used to rings hands base and even hair. Providing the pleasant, aroma and supposedly medicinal effects. Since we’re believed to influence not only the health, but also the spirit. Spirit with Rosemary associated with memory improvement and lavender. Lavender with better sleep. The wealthy, often burned herbs over. For fires and scattered them around the living spaces to maintain pleasant. Isn’t smelling air. This isn’t really that different from us. Us today with essential oils. Uh, that, you know, I I’ve got one. By the side of my desk that says it’s uplifting.
And when I’m, when I. I need more energy. I can rub it on my neck or my wrist or whatever. And. It will help me. So, you know, these things stay the same, just show up in. In different ways.
For the wealthy for the nobility. Uh, scented rooms was a serious, serious business. In 1558, Robert Dudley spent nearly. Nearly a pound, a substantial sum at the time on herbs. Just to keep his chamber smelling pleasant. Henry the eighth. Eighth was also a fan of luxurious sense, particularly rose oil. Oil, which was not only expensive, but also a symbol of romantic courtship. To give to someone rose oil was a grand gesture requiring. The pedals of thousands of roses to create a small vile. While.
Public cleanliness in Tudor, England.
Wasn’t just a matter of personal. Preference. It was guided by etiquette books that laid out rules for proper. For behavior.
These courtesy books were. We’re filled with advice on maintaining decorum, particularly at the dining table. Uh, they discouraged unpleasant habits like picking one’s ears or teeth. With your fingers. As such acts were considered highly inappropriate. Appropriate and company. Instead diners were encouraged to use tools like ear. Scoops and toothpicks for personal hygiene. These items were small. Call often made with silver.
You could put them almost on like the equivalent of a key chain. They sometimes have dual functions kind of like a cool Swiss army. Army knife. For instance, one end might be a nail cleaner while the other end served. The toothpick. Personal hygiene tools like ear scoops. We’re not. Just practical, but also symbolized status carried. On a chain kept in a pouch. These tools allowed tutors to maintain. Cleanliness, even in public settings. They’re small size and. And fine craftsmanship meant that they were sometimes seen as accessories. Doubling as symbols of wealth while such tools were commonly used. During meals, they were also employed in private. So hygiene, my friends in Tudor, England was far from. I’m primitive. It was shaped by the eras health beliefs. Those my asthma’s social norms and resources available. From the daily sponge, baths and linen changes to. To centered herbs and etiquette rules. The tutors clearly cared about. Cleanliness.
If you really want to dig deep into this, I highly. Highly recommend that Ruth Goodman book called how to be a tutor, a Dawn to dusk guide. To tutor life. So very interesting. Check it. For sure. I will put a link in the show notes. All. All right. My friend that wraps it up for this episode. Thank you so much for being with me. Thank you for spending this time with me.
And I will be back again next week. Have an amazing week. I will talk with you soon
Heather Teysko is the creator, writer, and producer of The Renaissance English History Podcast,  the original Tudor history podcast, started in 2009. She's been writing about history online for over 25 years, since her first site on Colonial American history became number one in history on Yahoo in 1998. In 2019 she created Tudorcon, which is now a yearly event, in addition to writing books, and running TudorFair.com - a whimsical Tudor Merch shop.
She has been passionate about Tudor England since she first read Alison Weir's The Six Wives of Henry VIII 30 years ago, and subsequently moved to London after college to spend her time immersed in Tudor history (how exciting when she got to interview Alison for the first time!). In addition to history, she is passionate about travel, and has lived in 3 countries and 4 states (not counting her perpetual state of confusion), and her family (who help her host her YouTube channel occasionally).
