Ruth Goodman on Matters of Hygiene

What did we use before soap and water? Ruth Goodman explains to us in this video how we had to change our cleaning habits in the 16th century because of the introduction of coal.
The Domestic Revolution: How the Introduction of Coal our Homes Changed Everything by Ruth Goodman is out now, published by Michael O'Mara Books, hardback, £20. Available from Waterstones here: bit.ly/2RHwT6g

[@gaggymott9159]

In 2023, WHY has Ruth Goodman not been made a Dame of the British Empire? She throughly deserves the UK Royal honour ❤

[@pamcolechadwell1302]

# Ruth Goodman I wish Ruth, Alex and Peter would make more shows, I would really love to see Domecory in the 1500 -the 1600s That would be amazing.

[@CrazyJodice]

Yes. My family and I have watched the few docuseries on Tubi . America needs more of these.

[@soulspacehomestead4941]

I just Love Ruth, she is so knowledgeable and truly a treasure!

[@lavoixdevelours]

I’ve learned so much from Ruth over the years.

[@slinkyfpv]

No kidding! My girl friend stopped washing my hair with shampoo every day and just used water and only used soap once a month and her hair looks and smells great! People can't believe she doesn't use product in it! She has very thin but bushy hair and it feels like silk and smells like her. I - freaking - love it!

[@bettygreenhansen]

Ruth Goodman just feels, after all these videos, like a very good friend! Long live Ruth!

[@chrislo2068]

I agree! If I could have dinner with any “celebrity” in the world, I would choose Ruth. Hands down.

[@HalsPals]

What a fascinating account. Ruth Goodman is certainly one of my favorite peoples in this world.

[@janellemiller3215]

Hey my father was on that ship,too.

[@ljb8157]

I wish she had more interviews available. I love all the shows but I could pick her brain for weeks!

[@PleaseNThankYou]

A National hero, for sure. Long live KZbin, that we may always have you to learn from. And learn in many ways, some not so tangible as building castles and managing the muck of the Ages. I admire your work ethic and that of your team's members. Incredible.

[@charlieminaj2]

This woman got me into from a young age the Victorian way in England, I’m 24 and literally struggling, and her ideas from Victorian farm and pharmacy honestly it’s fascinating, and has helped me a lot, with basic things like🥵😊 I’ll remember everything🙌🏻

[@oarfrost]

There ought to be a Ruth Goodman Day specifically to cheer us all up. That said, I have used wood ash to strip paint, so bear in mind that it can be pretty fierce stuff.

[@abdulbasitdalvi3963]

One of my most favourite historians. Mrs Ruth Goodman. Loved her in the absolute history series. Always wished I had a mother like her. Learnt a lot from you Mrs Goodman, thank you.

[@triciacallahan1680]

HUGE fan of Ruth. Love watching any show she’s in.

[@elaineh7811]

I remember Ruth doing the washing in the Victorian farm 💞

[@Viocarex]

She is an amazing historian.

[@Mels925]

Ruth is inspiring in so many ways. Not only does she inspire with her love and understanding of history, but she is also inspiring me as a mother. I've just watched Edwardian Farm and am finishing up Victorian Farm; and to see her interactions with her daughter inspires me to better interactions with my own daughter of similar age. Ruth Goodman is just the best!

[@babyfefe999]

I love her! She is so enthusiastic about history

[@tedslaughter169]

What an amazing person Ruth is!

[@mladyhazel]

I love you Ruth Goodman. Please continue being awesome:-)

[@ROXCANADA2023]

I just love this woman, such an interesting knowledge she gives us. She should have her own youtube Channel with her bodies of the show

[@amypelc8466]

Her husband must be a saint! Gone for a year at a time to film the 3 eras ? 3 times gone a year? Wow!

[@leonlemieux7620]

Brilliant Ruth. I love listening to your historical work

[@pkatwillobee]

Ruth is great!

[@sunnyseacat6857]

Fascinating about wood ash and cold water. I have been minimizing laundry loads drastically for some time and prefer to hang-dry all small garments instead of using a dryer. So ... commercial soap was developed ... why again? Perhaps because the timber industry was an enormous industry in-the-making, although the removal of trees devastated the environments everywhere, and TPTB did not want people messing with future profits, trees. Removing people from nature also started a mind set of dependency on commercial products, becoming consumers, and decreasing ancient knowledge such as making wood ash from trees. I bet, too, people who saw or believed in gnomes and fairies, who lived in forests, were then considered witches if they still interacted with trees ...

[@susanbloor8541]

After reading The Domestic Revolution, I changed the way I did my laundry, saving money and energy. Thank you Ruth! I love social history and the experimental archaeology really brings it to life and is highly engaging.

[@Lazydaisy646]

How do you do it now?

[@susanbloor8541]

@@Lazydaisy646 i do more cold washes and frequently wash without detergent. Wool garments I freshen by airing them outside. Equally good results to using modern detergents all the time and kinder to the pocket and the environment. Line dried garments and bedding don’t need fabric conditioner to smell fresh and cleaning cloths and towels are more absorbant without. Reading Ruth’s book reminded me of my godmother (an avid knitter) telling me that wool is largely self cleansing and that airing instead of washing would prolong the life of a garment. Linen has similar properties too. Hope this is helpful.

[@nancytobin4938]

I love you, Ruth goodman!

[@toothtimewithkimmythetooth5118]

I'm so happy to find this video! I appreciate all of the history and information that you've shared over the years! I've learned so much from you!

[@MrTargenor]

ohh i love Ruth :-) loved her in the BBC series on the victorian ages.

[@dayamitrasaraswati6276]

Love Ruth!!

[@donaldauguston9740]

Love you Ruth. Merry Christmas 2020. DA

[@adamogilvie6951]

Ruth is brilliant. Love her!

[@andyandcallie]

LOVE Ruth Goodman!

[@gabrieldelfronton2584]

We love you Ruth💕

[@birdwatcherjean6293]

This was incredibly interesting! Thanks so much for sharing.

[@ltvanburen8555]

Just love her!

[@louisaeggleton3426]

Fascinating!

[@carbidejones5076]

Love ya , Ruth.

[@chelsealeonardbaum23]

Thank you

[@nicoles5852]

Fascinating

[@KittyHelio]

Ruth is so interesting! :)

[@agirly1503]

Yay Ruth!

[@13ECHO20]

Red hair and freckles. The best, actually.

[@mjvn8870]

To be honest i still have bars of sunlight soap in the house. Im a 42 years old girl from The Netherlands 😉 even got some from my mom in a original wraping wel part of it. That i will not use but is just dit keeps.

[@ROXCANADA2023]

Reading the comments I see other people think the same!!!

[@lillianb8762]

Really interesting (and rather unfortunate)! Sound is a bit tricky, though. Bad mic?

[@melissagoetz8923]

Could you use wood ash to clean a sheep’s fleece as well?

[@terabryant3394]

I don’t think they would want to per se bc of the naturally occurring lanolin in the wool but I mean after it’s been processed I’m sure they used it on wool.

[@pamcolechadwell1302]

what about soap nuts?

[@babyvaso3855]

So.... is she saying that the idea of modern soap is just a big larp to remove people's ability to clean their laundry for free or........?

[@chrishyde8906]

Was there a gigantic fish tank pump in the background somewhere in this video?! Oh well, didn’t know about wood ash and it’s former import.

[@deanwinchester3356]

Asmr.

[@lyricaltraveller]

Numbers 19:9 “‘A clean man will gather up the ashes of the cow and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place, and they should be kept by the assembly of the Israelites to prepare water that will be used for cleansing."

[@callum9679]

She's super hot

[@boxdial3398]

No shit bruh