conret 0 Report post Posted August 7, 2006 i was wondering--what did people use before the invention of toilet paper because mass producton of paper is a pretty recent thing and i would think that about 1000 years ago only the wealthy could afford to use it. Any ideas how this was done in the early days? TY Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
husker 0 Report post Posted August 7, 2006 Do you really want to know? I would guess they they didn't use anything. Just let it out and leave lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dragonfly 0 Report post Posted August 7, 2006 They would have used anything including leaves. And for sure they use water. Some people assumed that they might have used water and their own hands but not their bare hands. They would have used water to to rinse but never touch. Yes, I agree toilet paper is not very old compare to a very old human history. When people lived as nomads they would have used leaves or even sticks in forests. It was not a big deal I suppose. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
husker 0 Report post Posted August 7, 2006 So that explains the brown leaves lol. How come we never have fossils of their "droppings" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
serverph 0 Report post Posted August 7, 2006 i would bet the ancient egyptians used papyrus!  seriously, here's a more extensive history of toilet paper and its use throughout the ages. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet_paper  now, we'll have less to wonder about it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FLaKes 0 Report post Posted August 8, 2006 Well, I guess it would depend on the place you lived in. Because some places could have papyrus while some other places wouldnt have it. Others would have tree leaves and some others would probably not even clean themselves at all. I wouldnt want to go any further with that.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlternativeNick 0 Report post Posted August 8, 2006 i must say, that is a rather interesting wikipedia article lol... i swear the things that people put on there, they really make me wonder :S Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reaper 0 Report post Posted August 8, 2006 i suppose they used their hands or something. maybe even leaves and hopefully they knew which ones were poisonous and which one were very ruff or it could end up being quite painful !!! LOL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brandice 0 Report post Posted August 8, 2006 One of the first steps in evolution was probably figuring out how to... um... clean themselves. Maybe they used scraps of whatever they made their clothes out of? We could all come up with pleasent ideas, but I am sure as yucky as it is, they probably used their hands. ew. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
premracer 0 Report post Posted August 26, 2006 Not to sound nasty or anything but like Husker said, they prolly just used nothing, or tree bark maybe cloth, leaves. Im sure they were very resourceful and used what they had a non limited resource of to use for their bathroom dutys Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sexymama1723 0 Report post Posted September 12, 2006 I don't know but from what I heard some people used their hand(which is so gross) But really you would have to research that because I really don't know the answer that lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nani Cheri 0 Report post Posted September 12, 2006 Yeah, thats a good question. It remind me of the question I used to ask myself as a lady. How did the women do with their ..you know.. I guess its called 'period' in english. But yeah how did they do that? I mean sounds a bit nasty thinking they just let it out too. And wouldn't they think, with the lack of knowledge they had then, that they were bleeding to death? But I shouldn't go off topic.So to make a story short, I think they used leaves, or soft tree cortex maybe? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOAW 0 Report post Posted September 12, 2006 uh back in those days they prolly used leaves i guess i dont know...if not they prolly had to spread their **bottom** cheeks mad wide n let it all out without leaving anything behind lol because thats just too uncomfortable to be tolerating with that sh-- lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
me_boxer_dude 0 Report post Posted November 11, 2006 I guess people might have been using cloth or paper or tree bark or maybe just water and hands. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
icemarle 0 Report post Posted November 12, 2006 Haha... interesting topic. Though I've thought of the same thing as Nani_Cheri. I think they had cloth for it... or at least animal hide. For the pre-toilet paper stuff, I think they'd use anything. O_o If they have no other choice, they probably use their hands... (ew) But of course, I'm sure they have water for that. I still think they use their hands as a last resort because it'll reaaally stink and people they meet will get grossed out. They probably used anything like leaves and other stuff.I'm so thankful I'm living in an age where it's pretty hygienic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites