Since October 7 was National Bathtub Day, it seemed timely to write a DYK on Bathtubs.

Bathtub History

It’s easy to think bathtubs are a relatively modern invention but think again. The first known bathtub dates back to 1700 BCE and the Palace of Knossos on the Island of Crete. But in antiquity, no one believed more strongly in daily baths—for both rich and poor—than the Romans. Throughout the Roman Empire, public bath houses were common and inexpensive. Unfortunately, daily bathing ended with the Roman Empire’s collapse.

Modern Bathtubs

Prior to the nineteenth century, when the Victorian Era and Industrial Revolution welcomed modern plumbing into people’s houses, water had to be heated and bathtubs manually filled and emptied. For this reason, bathtubs were light and portable. They weren’t used every day and were often stored outdoors. With the advent of modern plumbing, though, houses began to include a room set aside specifically for bathing. Bathtubs became more permanent, and the materials used to make them got heavier.

Did You Know…

• When a portable bathtub was manually filled, that one tub of water was used by the entire family. The head of the house bathed first, followed by his wife and children.
• American John Michael Kohler created the first modern bathtub—the clawfoot bathtub—in 1883, when he enameled a cast iron horse trough and attached four decorate feet.
• The Mosely Folding Bath Tub was like a Murphy bed. Hidden in an armoire-like contraption, the hinged-door opened, and a tub pulled down.
• Prior to 1910 bathrooms were status symbols.
• In 1921 only 1% of homes had clawfoot tubs.

President’s Bathtub

Strangely enough, bathtubs have been an integral part of several political stories. One centers around U.S. President William H. Taft. Taft was a large man and the country’s heaviest president (6’ tall and 350 pounds). During his presidency (1909-1913), he supposedly got stuck in his Oval Office bathtub and needed six people to pry him out. Since no evidence that this happened exists, it was likely a political smear-campaign fabrication.

DYK because of his size, President Taft did have multiple bathtubs made specifically for him? The first was seven feet long and forty-one inches wide and could easily fit four grown men. At the time of its production, it broke the world record for the largest bathtub.

Bathtub History?

According to a 1917 newspaper article by journalist H.L. Mencken, the bathtub was created by British aristocrat Lord John Russell in 1828. A bathtub was installed in the U.S. for the first time on December 20, 1842. Its arrival created a bitter controversy. Some people thought the bathtub undemocratic since only the wealthy could afford one. Others thought it unhealthy, which led to Philadelphia and Boston trying to outlaw bathing.

Interesting . . . and totally false. Mencken fabricated the whole thing. He admitted it eight years later, but by then it was too late. The lies had already become the truth. The original article about bathtubs had been related first by other newspapers, then medical journals, until finally his invented “facts” were being cited by Congress. Only when President Millard Fillmore (1850-1853) installed a bathtub at the White House did bathtubs become widely accepted.

Bathtub Benefits

Like the Romans, most people today understand the importance of cleanliness. While many people prefer showers to baths, a soak in a bathtub provides many health benefits. The most obvious? A bath cleans and moisturizes hair and skin, and hydrates the whole body, especially with the addition of certain salts and oils. It improves the body’s immunity, kills bacteria, and relieves flu and cold symptoms. It helps heart health, blood flow, and breathing. A warm bath also improves mental and emotional health by reducing stress, soothing sore muscles, elevating mood, and improving sleep.

Bottom line? Who knew the simple bathtub could have such an interesting and controversial history, and still be good for you?