Back during the 17 and 18 century how did people bathe, or did they.

Well, people's concept of a bath once upon a time was to take a swim. So even though they may not have been using soap, at least in some places, they were getting wet and getting some of the dirt off. Cleaning the body, or ablutions, didn't always mean what it does today but the practice goes back to biblical times. Before indoor plumbing and before wash tubs all people had were basins and water pitchers and they were lucky if there was a well to get water from. Bathing as we know it today would have been a luxury and a convenience. Indoor plumbing only came along in recent history. In some places it is still difficult for people to take baths and showers and there is now the added issue of diminishing water supply.

I saw one documentary too many about this. Women wouldn't remove their wigs (I can only imagine the hassle) for weeks on end and it would be so bad that rats would sneak into them. The reason why bathing wasn't such a daily thing to do is because not all houses had running water. That's just one reason; I can't remember the others, if there are.