When I was a kid, back in the '50s, we only used gasoline to parts wash. However, we didn't have a parts washer, so it was all done outside in a bucket with a paint brush for a cleaner.

The gasoline was also heavily leaded back then also. Around $0.25/gal.

That's just the way life was. Believe it or not, we also used to drink water out of our own water well! !!! We didn't buy bottled water then. Not sure there was even such a thing. 

Anyway, things have changed.