Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
WHAT WOULD YOU DO without toilet paper? Well, before loo roll was invented, people had to get creative and some of their methods will blow your mind! From leaves and seashells to sponges, stones, newspapers and linens called stool ducketts, history is full of strange and fascinating hygiene practices and the history of wiping is as weird as it gets.
In this video, we uncover the strange, surprising, and sometimes downright shocking ways people cleaned their bottoms before modern toilet paper was invented. You’ll discover how ancient Romans may have used a communal sponge on a stick (known as a tersorium), how people in medieval times relied on natural materials, and the surprising luxury of England’s royalty; stool duckets which were pieces of fine linen reserved for wiping the most royal of rear ends. You’ll also see pictures of some the people whose job it was to clean them so that they could be reused. Yuk!
We’ll also dive into fascinating cultural differences, hygiene hacks from around the world, and how toilet paper, as we know it, only became widespread in the last couple of centuries. If you’ve ever wondered how humanity handled its business before Charmin, this video has the answers.
Curious about history’s weirdest wiping methods? Watch now and prepare to be amazed — and maybe a little grossed out, for toilet paper only became widely used in the last 150 years, but the story of human hygiene stretches back thousands of years and it’s a lot weirder (and sometimes grosser) than you might think!
We’ll also look at the different ways people clean their bottoms in the modern world, comparing and contrasting wet cleaning with dry cleaning.
👍 Like, comment and subscribe for more weird history, fun facts and stories they definitely didn’t teach you in school.
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
DEATH BY TOILET
youtu.be/CA-kQWbRczQ
THE DANGERS OF HISTORICAL FICTION
youtu.be/i_bRhXQY4Zs
SOURCES
Philippe Charlier, Luc Brun, Clarisse Prêtre, Isabelle Huynh-Charlier, ‘Toilet hygiene in the classical era’ in British Medical Journal (2012).
Want to watch/hear/read more about history (and a whole host of other topics)? Then you might benefit from a free Audible or Prime video trial. They are available from the following links:
AUDIBLE
amzn.to/44MvlMi
AUDIBLE PLUS & AUDIBLE PREMIUM PLUS
amzn.to/42rh3PF
PRIME VIDEO
amzn.to/3LW7ykg
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
Blue Yeti Microphone: amzn.to/3FgEDYq
Go-Pro Hero 13 camera: amzn.to/41H4Xnt
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/3vaVxjU
Memory Card: amzn.to/3KeLZZs
DJI Drone: amzn.to/39hROZm
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
#ToiletPaperHistory #StoolDucketts #AncientHygiene #BathroomHistory #BeforeToiletPaper
WHAT WOULD YOU DO without toilet paper? Well, before loo roll was invented, people had to get creative and some of their methods will blow your mind! From leaves and seashells to sponges, stones, newspapers and linens called stool ducketts, history is full of strange and fascinating hygiene practices and the history of wiping is as weird as it gets.
In this video, we uncover the strange, surprising, and sometimes downright shocking ways people cleaned their bottoms before modern toilet paper was invented. You’ll discover how ancient Romans may have used a communal sponge on a stick (known as a tersorium), how people in medieval times relied on natural materials, and the surprising luxury of England’s royalty; stool duckets which were pieces of fine linen reserved for wiping the most royal of rear ends. You’ll also see pictures of some the people whose job it was to clean them so that they could be reused. Yuk!
We’ll also dive into fascinating cultural differences, hygiene hacks from around the world, and how toilet paper, as we know it, only became widespread in the last couple of centuries. If you’ve ever wondered how humanity handled its business before Charmin, this video has the answers.
Curious about history’s weirdest wiping methods? Watch now and prepare to be amazed — and maybe a little grossed out, for toilet paper only became widely used in the last 150 years, but the story of human hygiene stretches back thousands of years and it’s a lot weirder (and sometimes grosser) than you might think!
We’ll also look at the different ways people clean their bottoms in the modern world, comparing and contrasting wet cleaning with dry cleaning.
👍 Like, comment and subscribe for more weird history, fun facts and stories they definitely didn’t teach you in school.
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
DEATH BY TOILET
youtu.be/CA-kQWbRczQ
THE DANGERS OF HISTORICAL FICTION
youtu.be/i_bRhXQY4Zs
SOURCES
Philippe Charlier, Luc Brun, Clarisse Prêtre, Isabelle Huynh-Charlier, ‘Toilet hygiene in the classical era’ in British Medical Journal (2012).
Want to watch/hear/read more about history (and a whole host of other topics)? Then you might benefit from a free Audible or Prime video trial. They are available from the following links:
AUDIBLE
amzn.to/44MvlMi
AUDIBLE PLUS & AUDIBLE PREMIUM PLUS
amzn.to/42rh3PF
PRIME VIDEO
amzn.to/3LW7ykg
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
Blue Yeti Microphone: amzn.to/3FgEDYq
Go-Pro Hero 13 camera: amzn.to/41H4Xnt
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/3vaVxjU
Memory Card: amzn.to/3KeLZZs
DJI Drone: amzn.to/39hROZm
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
#ToiletPaperHistory #StoolDucketts #AncientHygiene #BathroomHistory #BeforeToiletPaper
