Cleaning clothes

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Did I mention jump in a cold river then run around until it all dries? :lol:

[Joze Noriker]

I wash my clothes, too with modern special liquid staff; and till now i haven't use the dryer: the clothes will be much smaller and from 100%woll i will get the felt.
But heavy winter clothes (paenula, coat, winter tunica, winter braccae) were more expencive because of hand weaving textile - i just hung on the air them for one week or so (i come from countryside) and i am using much lavande oil allways.
But if i am correct: the Romans had some natural washing practises and natural soap?

Joze

[Joze Noriker]

I was googling by the topic "washing by the ancient Romans" and the first match is this link:
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Ro...Fullo.html

Sounds interesting - but i think it will be most interesting to reenact, to show this practice on the events.

Joze

[Gaius Colletti]

This might be a little off topic, but I see a few "Romans" have posted and might be lurking around. I'm sure any of you who have leather in your kit use neatsfoot oil to condition and protect them. Well I got some neatsfoot oil on my tunic and have been unable to get it out, even after soaking the fabric in water and laundry detergent for a day, I still can't seem to get it out. Any suggestions or is it a lost cause?

EDIT: My tunic is also made of linen

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Hmmm, that is possibly where one or 2 stains on my wool tunic came from...
but I am not sure.

[Joze Noriker]

Hm, my leather is protected with oils&fatt&wax - special my belts and my shoes, too. I think you need stronger chemical cleaning, or try it with gas/benzine, maybe varicinna (hope you understand "my terms")? But try it first somewhere i mean on the similar linen-textiles, that you will see, how sensible is your textile on strong chemical liquids (because of the colour, etc..)

Joze

[Robert Vermaat]

Air your clothes, you do not have to wash them. Just change your mindset. People did not wash their clothes that often in the classical period. So save yourself the worry. You will only get them dirty. Keep yourself clean and your clothes do not seem so bad.

Some clothes I don't wash as they indeed do not get dirty. Such as my daughter's tunica manicata. Others, such as my son's trousers, get dirty a lot, and need washing to remain a bit presentable. :-D Sadly I don't have the room to air my clothes, and many are undertunics that get very sweaty. Now I fully realise that to our modern noses, Antiquity stank like a sewer (if not camouflaged by perfumes). As a soldier I think I should smell a whole lot more than I do, but that for a large part a compromise to modern visitors, who do not have a changed mindset and will take offence. :-(

[agrimensor]

I scond on airing, yhe only problem is that as it is aired and you put it in the bag with the rest it wil smell like goatleather again, but after 10 minutes you wont smeel it, just the public.