Before the 18th century, life aboard ship was generally unhygienic and the smell was memorable. The sailors worked and slept in a single set of clothing day after day, and body lice, which, besides causing miserable itching could spread diseases such as typhoid fever, thrived in the close, damp environment. Sailors could not swim or bathe in the ocean – much of the time the water was too cold or the conditions too rough. The grease and salt crust that built up on their clothing was not washed away. In fact, it was often given a slap of tar to help keep the wind and rain from biting into their skin. Their families at home rarely had access to bathing facilities and it did not become a regular part of life at sea either.
In the 1700s, as expeditions set out on more frequent and longer voyages, captains, ship’s surgeons, and scientists tried to understand the diseases that decimated the crews. The connection was made between cleanliness and health, and it became a strictly enforced part of a seaman’s duties to keep himself and his ship fresh and clean. The Royal Navy regulations for cleanliness stated that, “The Captain is to be particularly attentive to the cleanliness of the men, who are to be directed to wash themselves frequently”. This entailed splashing in a bucket of water, probably very cold water, but it was washing nonetheless.
When the weather was warm enough for drying laundry, the hammocks and bedding were rolled out and scrubbed, and clothing was hung out in the sun and wind.
It was impossible to keep the rats off a ship, especially when the hold was stocked with provisions for a long expedition. These small animals caused a great deal of mess and damage, so the ship’s cat was always on duty to hunt them down.
