{"id":3272,"date":"2022-02-24T13:51:42","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T12:51:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magyarendre.hu\/?p=3272"},"modified":"2022-03-29T14:22:51","modified_gmt":"2022-03-29T12:22:51","slug":"a-modern-wc-papir-eredete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magyarendre.hu\/en\/a-modern-wc-papir-eredete\/","title":{"rendered":"The origins of modern toilet paper"},"content":{"rendered":"

Toilet paper is a basic household item these days. Since everyone needs it, it is toilets<\/a> It is considered an essential accessory. However, this was not always the case, as there were historical periods when people had to do without complete comfort in toilets.<\/p>\n

Early solutions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before the emergence of civilizations, primitive societies lived much closer to nature than their modern descendants. Instead of artificially created objects, they used stones and tree branches found in their environment. They also did their work in the bushes, not far from the caves that served as living areas. They usually collected leaves, grass tufts, and pieces of bark for wiping, but sometimes moss also served well.<\/p>\n

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The modern toilet paper<\/a> Its predecessor was invented in ancient China. According to the surviving evidence, in the 6th century the Chinese were already using paper to clean their writing. This can be seen from the notes of a scholar who gave a precise description of what kind of paper was not suitable for erasing. For example, written works were forbidden to be damaged in this way.<\/p>\n

The ancient Greeks used simple rags in their toilets, but the Romans found an interesting solution to the problem. They attached a sponge to the end of a long stick, which provided a pleasantly soft feel. The only problem was that each person wiped their backside with it. When not in use, the sponge was stored in a bucket filled with a mixture of seawater and vinegar as a disinfectant. In public toilets, instead of a bucket, holes were often dug and the stick was inserted into these.<\/p>\n

Paper towels were still widely used in the Middle Ages, especially in China. According to records, toilet paper was not considered a luxury and was popular among ordinary people outside the imperial palace. However, the emperor could afford to buy scented and particularly soft-touch products.<\/p>\n

The aids people invented for cleaning themselves after using the toilet in different parts of the world were greatly influenced by climatic factors. For example, people living in colder regions used snow and lichen, while people in the tropics collected shells and coconut shells. In India, flushing with water is still common today, but they are strictly allowed to touch their lower body only with their left hand. The work of a 16th-century French writer, Fran\u00e7ois Rabelais, suggests that people in Europe were already familiar with toilet paper at the dawn of the modern era. However, Fran\u00e7ois found it more effective to use a live goose for wiping.<\/p>\n