Very few people would know that modern soap was introduced in India 130 years ago during the British rule and Lieber Brothers of England started the work of launching modern soap in India for the first time. Yes, earlier soap was imported from Britain to India and it was marketed. But when soap started being used in India, its factory was set up here for the first time. However, the thing to think about here is that when there was no soap and soap, how were clothes washed. Let us tell you about it in detail.
When there was no soap and surf, this was how clothes were cleaned:
It is noteworthy that the British factory used to make both soaps for bathing and cleaning clothes. Yes, North West Soap Company was the first company which established the country’s first soap factory in Meerut in 1897. After this, Jamsetji Tata emerged as the first Indian company in this business.
If we talk about old India, India has always been rich in vegetation and minerals. In such a situation, there used to be a tree here, which was called Reetha. Yes, earlier Reetha was used a lot to clean clothes and Reetha trees and Reetha gardens were planted in the palaces of kings. Even today, Reetha is considered a better organic product to keep expensive silk clothes free from germs. However, in today’s time, Reetha is used a lot for washing hair and even Reetha shampoos are made.
Let us tell you that even in earlier times, queens used to keep their hair thick and beautiful with the help of Reetha. However, at that time clothes were cleaned in two ways. Like common people first put their clothes in hot water and then boiled them. Then those clothes were beaten on cold stones, which removed all the dirt from them. But at present, clothes are washed in this native way only at big laundry ghats. Where soap and surf are not used.
Expensive and soft clothes were cleaned like this:
Reetha is used to clean expensive and soft clothes and for this, Reetha fruits are added to water and heated. Due to which foam is produced in water and by pouring it on clothes and rubbing it on stone or wood with brush or hand, not only the clothes were cleaned but also became germ-free. Let us tell you that earlier in rural areas, white colored powder was visible on the vacant land, on the banks of rivers, ponds or on the banks of fields, which is also called sand.
This powder was mixed with water and the clothes were soaked in it and then the clothes were cleaned by rubbing them with a wooden thapi or a cloth made from the roots of trees. Actually, it is a very valuable mineral, in which sodium sulphate, magnesium sulphate and calcium sulphate are also present. Along with this, sodium hypochlorite is also found in it, which protects clothes from germs. However, when it was discovered that rivers and sea water contain soda, it started being used extensively.
The thing to be noted here is that not only in ancient India but even a few decades ago, mud and ash were rubbed on the body and bath was done in Indian style and hands and feet were cleaned. Even ash and mud were used to clean utensils. However, in ancient times people used mud for cleaning. Well, now you must have come to know that when there was no soap and soap, how clothes were cleaned and how the clothes of the people of ancient India remained so clean. Friends, we hope that you must have liked this information.