2. Benjamin Franklin bathed in both water and air
A printer by trade, Franklin spent long hours in his youth scrubbing from ink on his hands and under his nails. Franklin bathed through swimming naked in nearby streams, including London’s Thames River during his lengthy stay in that city. One of the first Americans to own and use a bathtub which offered full immersion, Franklin spoke of the virtues of soap and water, vigorously applied. Like Washington, he despised powdering his hair and refused to do so even when presented to the King of France in 1777. It was an omission which enhanced his image as a common man of the people.
Medical professionals of the late 18th century considered exposure to the night air unhealthy, and in some cases even dangerous. As he did in so many areas, Franklin disagreed with the professed experts. He slept with open windows whenever possible, a habit which led to an argument with John Adams on one of their trips together. He also practiced a somewhat curious habit of what he called “air-bathing”. His air baths consisted of him sitting before an open window, completely naked, for periods of up to an hour. He found the air baths during the winter months to be particularly invigorating. He also had no qualms over receiving visitors during his air bath, often to their consternation.