In ancient Rome, one of the most unexpected everyday items with multiple uses was human urine. Far from being discarded, urine was actually collected and valued for its chemical properties. It played a key role in two surprising areas: dental hygiene and laundry.
Romans used urine as a mouthwash, believing the ammonia in it helped whiten teeth and disinfect the mouth. Though it sounds repulsive today, ammonia is indeed a powerful cleaning agent. Urine’s ammonia content also made it effective for washing clothes. Fullers—Roman launderers—used it to clean and bleach garments, stomping on clothes in vats of stale urine to lift dirt and oils.
Because of its many practical applications, urine became a commodity. Emperor Vespasian famously imposed a tax on public urinals, recognizing its economic value. In fact, the Latin phrase “Pecunia non olet” (“money does not stink”) is attributed to Vespasian’s defense of the urine tax, highlighting Rome’s pragmatic approach to even the most unlikely resources.
Strange as it may seem, the Romans proved that usefulness can come from the most unexpected places—even a chamber pot.