Fuller (Urine Washer)
In ancient Rome and medieval Europe, fullers played a crucial role in fabric production by cleaning and thickening wool with a rather unpleasant ingredient—human urine. The ammonia in urine was an effective cleaning agent, so fullers would gather it from public urinals to soak and “wash” the textiles. Workers then stomped on the cloth in large vats, a process that was as physically taxing as it was malodorous.
Despite the offensive smell and social stigma, this method was a staple for centuries before chemical detergents revolutionized the textile industry. Fullers were often marginalized due to their association with such a repugnant job, but their work was essential in keeping the clothing industry alive before modern cleaning agents.
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