TIL ancient Romans used urine to brush their teeth, as a mouthwash to whiten their teeth and they even used it as a laundry detergent to wash their clothes off until 1700’s.

[–] • 3 pts

It's oddly apparently a teeth whitener.

They had lots of the same twisted beauty ideals.

[–] • 1 pt

I think the whitening effect is caused by the ammonia in the urine.

[–] • 1 pt

I concur. This sounds like a highly viable hypothesis.

[–] • 0 pt

But doesn't it have to sit around and rot a bit for microbes to shit ammonia?

[–] • 0 pt

I think so. I know they used stale urine to de-grease (lanolin) the fleece from sheep in olden days.

[–] • 2 pts

Yeah, raw Lampreys and Dormouse were considered delicacies and they used lead piping for plumbing until it drove them all insane.

[–] • 1 pt

My preschooler still wets the bed. Urine soaked cloth is the NASTIEST smell. I can't imagine washing your clothes in it.

[–] • 1 pt

"I pissed my pants! What do?"

"Wash it in urine, it'll fix you right up!"