Keeping clean in the 16th-century: how often did ordinary Tudors wash?
In the sixth episode of her HistoryExtra Academy series Tudor Life, social historian Ruth Goodman dives into how much we know about the hygiene habits of ordinary Tudors. How clean were they, and did it matter? She also looks at the clothes people wore in the period – from commoners all the way to Henry VIII
Published: October 20, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Enjoyed this video? Ruth is hosting a live Q&A for HistoryExtra members on 19 November 2025 at 7pm (GMT). Find out more here
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Want more from Ruth? Find more episodes of Tudor life here
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Ruth Goodman is a historian of the social and domestic life of Britain. She has advised the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Globe Theatre and presented a number of BBC television series, including Victorian Farm
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