Why ancient Roman laundromats relied on human and animal urine to clean clothes
In short: Discover the surprising reality of Roman laundry services. While the profession was socially stigmatized due to their reliance on urine as a cleaning agent, fullers were actually some of the most prosperous and well-compensated workers in the city.
In ancient Rome, the fullers were responsible for both laundering garments and processing raw fabric into finished goods like blankets and clothing. Their cleaning process was notorious for its use of human and animal urine, which served as a detergent.
Despite the social disdain directed at them for working with these waste products, fullers maintained a high level of economic success. Their role was essential to the daily maintenance of Roman life, bridging the gap between raw textile production and the finished apparel worn by the populace.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How Did the Romans Do Their Laundry? (Fullers of Ancient Rome)
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