Hobbyist literary historian here. I would say "no." When you read books from that era, you'll occasionally hear mention of such outlandish products as "soap," "bleach," "lye," and "ammonia," all of which have long been used to bring about household cleanliness. Vinegar is as also as old as dirt (not quite, but it has been around for thousands of years) and is a handy cleanser still used today by the environmentally conscious. Someone else would have to verify it's historical use though.

All that aside, for the simple removal of dirt when sterilization is not an issue, you may be surprised to learn that a rag wet with water will do wanders.