One of the more popular early American wiping objects was the dried corn cob. A variety of other objects were also used, including leaves, handfuls of straw, and seashells. As paper became more prominent and expendable, early Americans began using newspapers, catalogs, and magazines to wipe.2018-10-11
What did they use for toilet paper in the Old West?
Before Toilet Paper, Corn Cobs And Newspaper Could Do The Job. As a relatively modern luxury, toilet paper wasn't available in the Old West. Alternatives included whatever was available, including grass, an old corn cob, or pieces of newspaper.2020-01-27
What did settlers use instead of toilet paper?
Before toilet paper, people mainly used whatever was free and readily available for personal hygiene. Unfortunately, many of the options were quite painful: Wood shavings, hay, rocks, corn cobs, and even frayed anchor cables.2018-12-12
What did pioneers use instead of toilet paper?
In rural agrarian communities, handfuls of straw were frequently used, but one of the most popular items to use for clean-up was dried corncobs. They were plentiful and quite efficient at cleaning. ... Even after toilet paper became available, some people in Western states still preferred corncobs when using the outhouse.