Health

Warpy

(113,131 posts)

32. Ruth Goodman mentioned one of her fellow researchers tried out Tudor cleanliness for about 6 months

Reply to question everything (Original post)

Fri Dec 25, 2020, 06:45 PM

Dec 2020

Tudors of both sexes wore a linen chemise next to their skin, then layers of outer clothing that had to be tied, laced, or sewn on. Wealthy Tudors would change the chemise daily, less well off weekly. They never bathed, it was damned cold and most people didn't have the new invention of fireplaces and chimneys (which caught on fire a lot, anyway).

What the researcher found was that a daily change of cotton undies did the trick, removing sweat and oils efficiently enough that no one noticed he hadn't actually bathed in months. I do believe he did wash his hair, the Tudors weren't all that fussy about pediculosis, using daily fine combing to keep the population under control, but we are.

I'm not endorsing this, it's just an illustration of how acceptable standards can be maintained in the absence of a daily shower.

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Do You Need to Shower Every Day? [View all] question everything Dec 2020 OP

I'm in Florida and in the summer 3 showers in Phoenix61 Dec 2020 #1

It might not be necessary, but I feel gross if I don't. The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2020 #2

Exactly. 3catwoman3 Dec 2020 #30

Depends liberal N proud Dec 2020 #3

Me too Freddie Dec 2020 #10

Oh, I thought you were going elsewhere with "Depends"... erronis Dec 2020 #14

I wait until my coffee is ready and it's safe to get out of bed. Then I take a cup into brewens Dec 2020 #20

Mostly everyday whether for the mellow in a hot hot shower especially winter LizBeth Dec 2020 #4

Why can't go anywhere or do anything anymore? nt doc03 Dec 2020 #5

This post fits your username. rzemanfl Dec 2020 #6

I finally got 10 months of hair growth cut off the other day ... mr_lebowski Dec 2020 #8

I will keep letting my hair grow until I get both shots. n/t rzemanfl Dec 2020 #12

I hear ya ... it was spur of the moment for me I was going to walgreens and the place I walked by mr_lebowski Dec 2020 #15

Nice thing about having curly hair and at our age very thin, we can cut both question everything Dec 2020 #17

I have just as much hair as I did when I was in my twenties and for some rzemanfl Dec 2020 #22

I'm lucky in that if I put on anti-perspirant when I get out of the shower I won't smell for like 5 mr_lebowski Dec 2020 #7

Don't you live in AZ? Ohiogal Dec 2020 #24

Yes ... but that mostly happens in a place that they call 'outside' ... mr_lebowski Dec 2020 #26

I get it. Ohiogal Dec 2020 #27

Not too different from what they do in other places in these types of situations mr_lebowski Dec 2020 #28

we live in SoCal near the beach... dhill926 Dec 2020 #9

I have very dry skin and in Montana in the winter, it's very dry. I only shower every 4 days or so OregonBlue Dec 2020 #11

I'm a nurse so I always shower before work. I want to be extra clean for my patients mucifer Dec 2020 #13

I do strength training four days a week, and shower on those days. The Genealogist Dec 2020 #16

Sounds like a navy regulation shower jmbar2 Dec 2020 #29

He was in the navy toward the end of WWII. The Genealogist Dec 2020 #36

Good story jmbar2 Dec 2020 #37

I shower before bed central scrutinizer Dec 2020 #18

yes, because I exercise every day Skittles Dec 2020 #19

Bedhead Cartoonist Dec 2020 #21

For once I am doing something healthy Chainfire Dec 2020 #23

I swim laps twice a week Ohiogal Dec 2020 #25

Everyday for me Bayard Dec 2020 #31

Ruth Goodman mentioned one of her fellow researchers tried out Tudor cleanliness for about 6 months Warpy Dec 2020 #32

didn't know this NJCher Dec 2020 #35

In winter, every other or every three days for me. SharonClark Dec 2020 #33

daily . i work out every day 2 to 3 hours. drray23 Dec 2020 #34

I shower 3 times a week I_UndergroundPanther Dec 2020 #38