How often did people in medieval Europe bathe?

Question: How often did people in medieval Europe bathe!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

A lot more than most people today think!.

One of the modern myths about medieval times is that no one took baths!. This is not true!. Baths were normally taken in wooden tubs!. Often times some privacy was provided by a canopy or tent!. In warmer weather the tub was placed in the garden of the castle, and in cold weather near a fire inside the castle!. When travelling, the tub often accompanied the lord, together with the bathman!.
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I've lost count of the times, in this "Age of Cleanliness", when I've seen people emerging from the bathroom without washing their hands!. Etc, etc!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It depends on what part of Europe and what the time period you are asking about: earlier, there was a French king who was proud of the fact that he bathed only once a year!. But after the Black Death, people started bathing more frequently!.

also, it was during the Crusades that the Crusaders discovered hard soap and brought it back to Europe!. But the Greeks never forgot about it, and the famous "Turkish Bath" is a modification of what was readily available in Constantinople all throughout the Medieval period!.

Use Google or Yahoo! on the search terms "medieval hygiene" and you will find what you need!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Bathing required hauling and heating water!. If you had to do that by hand, how often do you think you would bathe!? Don't forget you have to empty the tub, too (if you even owned one)!.

Peasants could go their entire lives without a hot bath, but some did sponge bathing and others used the creek!.

The merchant class and the noble class (both of which had servants) were more frequent about bathing, but they didn't have to haul the water themselves!. Even then, they often shared the bath water!. Father first, then mother, then children!. The tubs also tended to be small!. Bathing was very infrequent!. During the winter, it would be safe to say they didn't!. During the summer, maybe once or twice a month!.

By the way, the taboo against bathing started when the Roman baths were closed by the church!. The baths weren't properly maintained and they DID spread disease so the church closed them, then told people they should not be so concerned with their physical bodies, but their souls!. The lower classes and the devout obeyed!. The upper classes cheated as did the upper echelons of the church itself!.

People in hotter climates did bathe more frequently than those in cold ones!.

By the way, women brushed their hair religiously to remove excess dirt and oil!. Until the sixties, hair brushing was a standard practice even in this country to remove excess oil and dirt and bring out the shine!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

not sure of exact time, but i know it was weeks because they felt that the dirt gave them a protection against disease, also water wasn't readily available and a warm bath took some doing!. so the wealthier used a lot of perfumes!. Europeans today view Americans obsession with cleanliness as silly!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

That is a good question!.!.!.reminds me of the statement of "monthly bath" from Westerns!. I am sure it depends on the time of year too!.!.!.No matter how you look at it!.!.!.unless you were royalty, I am sure not that often at all!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

maybe once a year on a special day, and maybe if they were near a lake and decided to go swimming!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Try looking it up in your local library!.
Or on google!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

not often!.!.!.!.once a week or less often!.!.!.no indoor plumbing!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

with waterWww@QuestionHome@Com