The ancient Romans used urine as mouthwash and laundry detergent

Urine contains ammonia, a powerful natural cleaning agent. Romans collected it in public pots on street corners for use in laundries (called fullonicae) and as a tooth-whitening agent. Emperor Vespasian even taxed the trade — which is why in French, public urinals are still sometimes called 'vespasiennes'. He reportedly said, 'Money has no smell.'

Source: Pliny the Elder, 'Natural History' / Roman social history records