Soap Through Time: An Illustrated Look at the Evolution of Clean

It is difficult to determine the exact origin of the first hand wash as hand washing has been a part of human hygiene practices for thousands of years. However,

The use of soap dates back thousands of years. The ancient Babylonians were known to have made soap from fats boiled with ashes around 2800 BC. Egyptians also made soap using a combination of animal and vegetable oils, and the ancient Greeks and Romans used soap for both medicinal and cleansing purposes.

However, soap production did not become a major industry until the Middle Ages in Europe, where soap was made from tallow (animal fat) and lye (potassium hydroxide), and used mainly for washing clothes and for medicinal purposes. The soap-making process remained largely unchanged until the 19th century when new techniques and ingredients were developed, such as the use of vegetable oils instead of animal fats.

In 1791, French chemist Nicolas Leblanc developed a process for making soda ash, which became a key ingredient in soap-making. This process made soap production much more efficient and affordable, paving the way for mass production of soap. 

In the mid-19th century, soap-making became an industrialized process, with the invention of the continuous soap-making process and the introduction of synthetic ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate. Today, soap is made using a wide variety of ingredients, including natural oils, synthetic detergents, and additives such as fragrances and colors. It is used for personal hygiene, cleaning, and a wide variety of other purposes.

Throughout history, soap has played an important role in human hygiene and health. During the 19th century, as people became more aware of the importance of cleanliness and hygiene, soap became increasingly popular. This was especially true during the cholera epidemic of the mid-1800s, when soap was widely recommended as a way to prevent the spread of disease.

In addition to its use for personal hygiene, soap has also been used for medicinal purposes. In ancient times, soap was often combined with medicinal herbs to treat a variety of ailments. During the Middle Ages, soap was used to treat skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis, and in the 19th century, it was used to treat syphilis.