Jane Austen History Throwdown

Washing and bathing were hard to accomplish back in the day when water had to be hauled in from outdoors. Some lucky people could draw water from a well in the courtyard, like Jane Austen and her family at Chawton Cottage, others had to walk to a stream or river or to a common pump in the town square. This meant that laundry days were few and far between, for it meant two days of hard work. Personal bathing was not a daily occurrence. Individuals might wash their faces and hands daily, but frequent baths were out. Indoor plumbing was also a convenience for the future.

Jane and Cassandra's bedroom at Chawton Cottage. The chamber
pot is in the closet at left. Image @Tony Grant

Thinking about your own personal hygiene habits, which would be the hardest daily habit for you to forego? Bathing? Clean laundry? Or indoor toilets?

Boiling laundry. Seraphine, 2008

Which modern convenience would be the hardest to forego?
	Bathing
	Clean laundry
	Indoor toilets
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