Washing out the mouth with soap

Washing out the mouth with soap is a traditional form of physical punishment that consists of placing soap, or a similar cleansing agent, inside a person's mouth so that the person will taste it, inducing what is generally considered an unpleasant experience. This form of punishment was especially common in the United States and United Kingdom from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century.

Washing out the mouth with soap is most often used as a response to profanity, lying, biting, tobacco use, or verbal disrespect. It is intended to function both as a symbolic "cleansing" following the infraction and as a deterrent, due to the foul aftertaste. It is commonly used as child discipline or school discipline, and is reported to be more frequently employed by mothers than fathers.

The use of this punishment has diminished considerably in recent years, largely in favour of discipline methods that are not considered violent or humiliating. Nonetheless, this punishment still has advocates today. Ingestion of soaps and detergents can have potentially serious health consequences, and individuals administering this form of punishment may face legal sanctions.

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