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Cheeky Actress

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    Soap

    in Captain Twill

    Posted

    Perhaps we should start a new topic: "The Uses for Urine aka "Piss". Everyone has come up with some great historical facts on the use of this product.

    Week old or stale urine seems to become more powerful with time, and yes, ammonia is the main element in it. So, I can just imagine that it had hundreds of uses. Everything from cleaning, to setting dye, to making ammo....Wow!

    I also remember reading women in ancient Rome would use goats urine to set their hair. The first perms perhaps? And no Maddogge....I don't EVER plan on doing my hair with piss for the sake of reeneacting! Better ask Bess.

    Soap

    in Captain Twill

    Posted

    Ya...thought you boys would get a big kick out of that. Week old piss (morning's first 'water') has the good strong properties of ammonia, thus a good cleaning compound and of course, the stench that could choke a horse.

    Bess is looking into the latter use of 'ash' for cleaning. Though, the kids would really get a kick out of knowing about the urine. Something about 8 or 9 year olds liking bathroom humor really says something, don't it?

    Soap

    in Captain Twill

    Posted · Edited by Cheeky Actress

    Yes, housewives did make there own soaps (various formulas), but the industry of mass manufacturing soaps for sale in the Colonies didn't really take off until after the 1740's.

    There are written reports of 'soap makers' going from village to village/door to door to sell their finish wares to housewives in trade for tallow (animal fat)...bartering for the product.

    Back in the UK, during the late 17th century, most housewives did manufacture several 'hard' and 'soft' soaps. Lye was the number one element in there mix.

    "Ash-balls" made from veggie ash or wood ash were wetted and formed and mixed into the water as a solution for bucking. Depending on how dirty the load was, a good soak would have be done over night ...or over several days!

    Soft soaps were made up of veggie ash and various oils (animal and plant) to help. "Black Soap" was a good example of soft soap.

    Then there is the ever popluar...Chamber-lye...aka Urine! Yes, piss had its place in cleaning laundry back int he late 17/early 18th century. Week old urine worked wonders on getting out stains and breaking down body soils.

    It would soak over night...then rinsed in cleaner water, the rinsed again, then hung out to dry on shubs or on the grass to dry.

    Thank heavens Bess is English...I cannot express the horror that I felt once I found out how Scotch-housewives and maids did their laundry....they'd jump into the laundry bucket with bare feet and stomp until clean...in urine!? No...not my Bess!

    Soap

    in Captain Twill

    Posted

    In doing a bit of research on this topic, I came across several interesting facts in, "The Illustrated History of the Housewife" by Una A. Robertson.

    Though washing with soap differed from the other methods in requiring hot water to be 'eficacious, an added cause of expense and effort and hence a deterrent to its use; soaps were also heavily taxed at fluctuating rates between the early 1700s and 1850s. The duty, introduced as a means of helping to pay for the War of Spanish Succession, was initially set at a rate of one penny per pound...."

    With this being said...such an item was expensive and those could afford it used it sparingly.

    There is still the basics...'Chamber Lye" and Potash that would do in a pinch and help in 'cold water' washing.

    Military History Fest | Chicago, ILL

    in February

    Posted · Edited by Stynky Tudor
    Additional event web links and supposed organization.

    February 5th - 7th, 2010 | Reenactor Fest 6 Chicago

    Wheeling, ILLINOIS

    Special guest of honor Jason Salkey (Rifleman Harris from the Sharpe series). Reenactor Fest is an indoor convention for all reenacting time periods, from the Roman Empire through Vietnam. Guests are encouraged to attend in period dress! The 3 day celebration features hundreds of quality vendor tables, LIVE demonstrations of historical military & cultural activities every day, interesting seminars and lectures on a myriad of topics, a Reenactor's Ball, plus music, food and there is ALWAYS a party going on after the sun goes down! Please check the SCHEDULE link to keep up on what seminars are planned. Discounted overnight stay rates for convention attendees will be available right here on this website. See you there! Reenactor Fest is open to the public, and has stuff for all ages to see and do. Buy tickets online. Prices go up after Jan. 5, 2010.

    Held at the Westin Chicago North Shore, with discounted room rates for attendees. Book your room through the event website.

    Rooms are still available for this event....but they are going fast.

    Please click on the link for further details.

    Chicago Location, Hotel Res. and Advance Ticket Sales

    Note: Reenactor Fest 6 - Philadelphia was canceled

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