How and when did homosapiens discover the importance of hygiene? What was used as soap before?

by OutragedBubinga

In the 21st century we all know a good hygiene is beneficial to one's health but it seems like it wasn't something as important nearly a century ago. I'm curious to know when we began to wash our bodies for what reason.

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You may also want to post rhis on r/askanthropology, they may have a better pool of scholars that can answer this.