I started thinking about this in a medieval context, but I guess I'm overall wanting to know how it's been dealt with over time. Thanks!
Women used clouts of fabric that were washed and reused. It was the norm right up until WWI. Nurses realised that disposable surgical dressings saved time and the embarrassment of dealing with clouts while working on the wards. The idea quickly became a commercial one, especially as hemlines went up and silhouettes became slinkier.
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