“One dress. No deodorant. No washing machine.” 😳 Ever wonder how women used to deal with sweat and odor centuries ago? No showers, no fresh outfits — just clever hacks, sewn-in armpit pads, and bags of dried herbs stuffed in sleeves. Their secret tricks might just surprise you. See how they stayed fresh without modern hygiene in the article below 👇
Today, we take for granted how easy it is to deal with sweat and body odor. Showers are just a step away, clothes go straight into the washing machine, and deodorants are everywhere. But not too long ago, women had to get creative to stay fresh — especially when clothing was expensive, rare, and incredibly hard to clean.
Back in the day, owning more than one set of clothing was a luxury. Most women had just a single outfit for daily wear, and even that was passed down from mother to daughter. Since garments took so much time and effort to make, washing them often just wasn’t an option.
In centuries past, fashion leaned toward heavy, layered dresses — which made things even more difficult. Washing these items wasn’t just inconvenient, it could ruin them. Harsh methods like boiling clothes with lye or beating them with paddles were only used for linens and undergarments. Outerwear had to be gently aired out or held over steam to remove dirt and odors without damage.
The biggest issue? Smell. Sweat, cooking fumes, and outdoor pollution all clung to fabric. And when clothes were stored for long periods, they often developed a stale, musty odor. Women fought this by hanging garments outdoors or in breezy rooms to air out. Clothes were also packed away with sachets filled with dried herbs and flowers to keep them smelling pleasant.
One clever trick involved sewing absorbent pads into the armpits of dresses. After wearing, the pads could be removed and cleaned separately. These “underarm shields” stayed popular well into the 20th century. In some countries, they were even sold in stores and advertised as must-haves for personal hygiene.
As time went on, early antiperspirants appeared in the late 1800s. These were thick pastes made of zinc and aluminum salts, and though they helped reduce sweating, they didn’t fully eliminate body odor. That’s why strong perfumes and colognes were also a big part of staying “fresh” back then.
It’s fascinating to see how far we’ve come — from layering herbs in sleeves to rolling on modern antiperspirants in seconds.
What do you think about these old-fashioned tricks for staying clean? Would you try any of them today? Let us know in the comments!
