Quite often the popularizations about medieval towns are characterised by dirt and disorder. The prevailing general conceptions are based rather on ideas and interpretations about the medieval way of life than studies and analysed evidence related to the time period in question. Therefore, more studies and discussion about the topic are needed to change the conceptions unless they are based on limited and one-sided evidence.
The focus of this paper is on the sanitary conditions of the medieval Turku. I am presenting the findings and measures, which aimed at improving the sanitation not only in the town of Turku but in other towns in the North as well. These findings demonstrate that people in Turku had both will and ability to take care of their living environment and to increase the comfort of their living quarters in many ways. Furthermore, I am discussing the concept of waste and call for more comprehensive and detailed studies about environmental conditions in medieval towns to create the reliable basis for conceptual change beyond academic circles, too.