What was used for whitening teeth and clothes in Ancient Rome?
As urine ages, it is broken down into ammonia. Ammonia is in a lot of cleaning products, both as an antibacterial agent and a bleaching agent. The Romans had so many uses for urine (including cleaning teeth and clothes), the Emperor Vespasian imposed a urine tax.
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curiosity.com
What are your thoughts on this subject?
37 Comments
silrem
Stop buying Tide and start peeing in your pants.
mlhoover
imagine, a urine tax. Wow! Is that like charging to use the bathroom stall?
Rashi Rosenzweig
I'll take Colgate over that anyday.
Shirley Dutt
It wasn't only Rome.
Char
Not on my mouth you don't yuck... clothes yuck but OK..I can't ammonia now
catmom
hector tubens, I think I'll stop drinking wine. Lol
catmom
John W Shreve, That was hysterical.😂
catmom
Kathi Taylor, I agree, it is gross.
catmom
mlhoover, Prob.
catmom
Irma Rivera, I agree.
catmom
silrem, That was gross but funny. I'll pass, thx.
james parrillo
Gary Kirkman, As toothpaste? Christine, James' wife
james parrillo
earlepg, Didn't QuizzClub have a question just like this within the past week or two? Thank you, Christine, James' wife
earlepg
earlepg, From holding it in too long, of course
earlepg
Since I read about this some time in the past, I knew the answer.
Urine tax; I'm wondering if people had extreme cases of bladder infections or constant incontinence in those days.
Mike Hibner
I'm too underwhelmed to comment...
jack patti go
H my gosh,!!! Urine! Thats crazy! Although, I didn't think it through! I pick borax, I forgot it can poison you!
tbear
Todd Cates, 👍😊