Tissues Vs. Hankies: Gesundheit!
By Jenn | January 6, 2009
Hello 2009, I’m sick. It’s an interesting way to start a new year, slow and deliberate and sniffly… and it’s lead me to think about tissues & hankies. Again.
As noted many times before, I’ve already stopped buying disposable paper napkins and paper towels, and have replaced them with cloth napkins and reusable rags, with great success and no pain. But thinking about using hankies… well, I was just not ready to take that leap. I had lumped it together with giving up disposable toilet paper, which I was/am also not nearly even considering… but now, well, now I’ve had a change of heart. About the hankies.
The last time I was sick, I had a pre-purchased box of disposable tissues in my house– so I didn’t really need to make any Tiny Choices in this department. When this current cold started a few days ago, I rummaged around my bathroom until I found a travel-pack of tissues. I usually reserve these for travel-bathroom emergencies, and don’t buy them too often as they’re not made from recycled paper. But here I was with a runny nose and no tissues in sight—so I used them. And then when that tiny pack was finished, I started using my recycled-content toilet paper as tissues… which is perhaps better in that at least it’s made from recycled paper, but not great in that it’s still a disposable product.
So I had an ah-hah moment while laying in bed, moaning over the sad state of my nose—as ya’ll know, recycled-content toilet paper isn’t particularly soft and cushy. Using this scratchy paper to blow my nose and wipe the drippies was just leading to a raw red painful situation on my face.
As much as I wanted to, I wasn’t going to run out and pick up a box of soft petroleum-lotion-imbued, virgin-timber based, tissues. Clear-cutting old growth forests for disposable paper products just seems karmically harmful to me, not to mention idiotic and short-sighted.
Enter hankies. NOW I understand hankies! I get it! Sure, you’re left with a messy piece of fabric containing viscous contaminants… but you’re also: not using a disposable product; your nose won’t get torn up from scratchy recycled paper products; no trees are getting chopped down nor pollution spewed into the air; you automatically gain a certain panache which your contemporaries only dream about; and, you know, they’re really not that gross to deal with.
I went to four thrift stores today trying to score some vintage hankies, with no luck. So now I’m trying to win an eBay auction for a whole package of unused, vintage hankies… I’m on the edge of my seat! Pretty pretty hankies! They won’t arrive in time to help out with this cold, but the next time I get sick, I’ll be ready to blow.
And this brings up another point– one of our main points here at Team TC: by making a single ecologically-friendlier choice, you’re automatically opening yourself up to making more eco-choices. By becoming comfortable with fabric napkins and rags, I now see how hankies truly rock and are actually preferable to the standard tissue. It’s exciting to think: what’s next?
Have you made the switch to hankies, or is this a Tiny Choice you’re considering?
[Image by Michale, via Creative Commons]
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- Hankies?
- Hey, so, How About Hankies?
- Hankies, Again
- DIY vs. BUY
- Easy Peasy Tip: Switch to Reusable Cloths!
- Multi-Functional Hankies
- Easy Peasy Tip: Keep a towel at work!
Topics: Waste |
We’ve been using hankies for close to 20 years now. When I used to use paper tissues during a cold, the outside of my nose would become red and raw and completely dried out from constantly being rubbed by paper…. even the best, softest paper tissue had this result. When I use hankies during a cold the outside of my nose NEVER gets red or raw or dry….. real cloth is just so much easier on my nose!
As for the “ick” factor…. having used and washed cloth diapers for my two daughters (now 22 and 20) I got over the ickiness thing A LONG time ago!
Hey Michelle– great point about the cloth diapers– I’d bet not much squicks you out now!
My kids have allergies, therefore perpetually drippy noses. Hankies were a no-brainer for us, as we used to go through a box of tissues a week. We gave out embroidered (mongrammed) hankies as Christmas presents.
Robin, love the idea of embroidered hankies as gifts. I’ve always thought of them as too pretty to actually use… but maybe they actually get prettier once you put them into rotation in your life, as they’re a useful and sweet gift…
Monogrammed. Sigh.
Thanks for posting about this - I’ve struggled with the hanky question for a while now. I imagined that my already sensitive nose would also suffer from the cloth of a hanky - but it looks like I might be wrong about that. Keep us posted about your “results”!
Hey Rachel– as noted by other commenters, it seems like flannel hankies are the way to go! Which didn’t even occur to me when I was bidding on eBay cotton hankies… but, now we know!
I can see the ease of carrying a cloth hankie when times are good, but when you are blowing your nose and catching drips non-stop for days…how do you manage the volume?
Even if you have 5, 10, 20 hankies, you’d be doing laundry all day rather than curled up in bed snuggled with the cat (another soft hanky!).
I’m curious how that part works out. If my nose is going, I fear that I’m still one to create 4-6 inches of crumpled nasty paper tissues surrounding my bed.
Regardless of your phlegm catcher of choice, I hope you get better soon!
Hey CK!
Well, I haven’t yet had experience with managing the volume of days-worth of used hankies– but I imagine it’s just kind of like other reusable things, you get into the habit of carrying a bag around with you– in go the used hankies. Then when home, the full bag goes into the laundry basket.
I think if you stocked up on a large number of hankies, you could get through any cold just fine. As noted by a commenter below, you’d be surprised at how many times you can re-use a cloth hankie before it’s, err, full-up. Sounds gross; is actually less gross in practice.
Thanks for the good wishes! Sending happy everything wishes to you, your family, and your cat!
Jumping back in-
On softness: We made handkerchiefs out of flannel and jersey pillowcases we found at Goodwill. Total cost: about $4 for about 30 goodsize handkerchiefs, and they just keep getting softer. (We found the cotton ones rough on tender noses.) We did buy new jersey material for the ones we gifted.
On volume: I keep all the hankies in a box and people grab as needed and then throw them into their clothes basket when they become nasty. I can’t say there’s any noticeable difference in laundry.
The way I see it, if they didn’t have the handkerchiefs in their pockets they’d be wiping their noses on the back of their sleeve. We could never keep enough tissues on hand!
See, now, I hadn’t even thought of flannel hankies. Brilliant! I thought I was being smart with getting cotton ones (instead of polyester, etc), and figured they’ll soften over time in the wash. But flannel… that just sounds so lovely. I’m tempted to cut up an old flannel shirt I’ve got and give it a go.
I’m considering hankies, having giving up paper towels/napkins (except for cat puke, which is, thankfully, rare at the moment). I was concerned about the gross factor, and the length of time between laundromat trips, but I got a Wonderwash for Xmas (SO EXCITED!), and once I get used to it, I’m thinking I’ll make the switch, starting with some of the “nicer” jersey rags we just added to the pile.
To those who have done this: just a simple hem around the edge? What size have you found most useful?
Hey Wroth– I’m curious about size, too– let me know if you experiment!
I bought a pack of hankies last year from Vermont Country Store. I confess to still grabbing tissues (they’re around the house and sometimes it’s easier) but if I need to just dab my nose it’s whip out a hankie time. I’m growing rather fond of them.
i’ve always used toilet paper for my nose (i guess i wasn’t willing to give up counter space for a kleenex box), but we’ve been using gerber birdseye “cloth diapers” as napkins and tissue for my 2.5 year old. i’m not sure why i haven’t been doing the same for myself. something to consider. it would be fantastic if my husband would… he goes through more paper products than i can bear.
I’ve become a bit of a magpie with my hankie collecting habit! Not being a sewer, I’ve accumulated quite a collection of colorful and silly flannel cloths in the last year from etsy.com. Flowers, pirates, paisley…I love a colorful hankie! And my nose certainly appreciates the soft flannel too!
Yay for hankies! I bought some vintage ones at a thrift store about 9 years ago now because I thought they looked cool… then I happened to have one with me when I had a little sniffle one day, and the rest is history. Hankies accompany me everywhere I go - I have minor allergies in the summer, and my nose always drips going from cold to warm in the winter. If I have a really bad cold, I’ll just carry around two or three. (If you ritualistically get very bad colds/allergies, I highly recommend a nettie pot) I have a bunch - just in the form of normal handkerchiefs, now, as the vintage ones disintegrated. The can come in handy for other things, too - such as the time my dog got raw feet from a long, rocky hike, so my boyfriend and I ripped my hankie into four pieces, added some duct tape, and voila! Booties!
During a particularly bad cold, you might want to wash them in hot water.
Great point, Martha. :) I’d figured I’d turn on the hot water tap once I wash this particular load of laundry…
I’ve had my hankies for about a year now. They’re not vintage or made from used cloth (though now I realize I could have made a bunch from old pajama bottoms). I got these ones
http://www.hankettes.com/qs/product/8/148/23385/0/0
There are three per pack (but you can get bigger packs) and I have one pack by my bed and one in my purse. I don’t usually use them a lot except when I’m sick. This sounds a little gross but you would be surprised how many times you can use them before you have to put them in the wash. Last time I was sick I went through all six but normally I wash them once a month or so since I’m not a heavy user. They’re super soft flannel and keep getting softer.
Something I never thought I’d say…
I have measured my handkerchiefs. They are about 10 inches square. We bought 4 pillowcases, flannel and jersey, from Goodwill, undid the seams, and got 8 handkerchiefs per pillowcase.
I ran a quick zigzag stitch all around to keep them from unraveling.
I’ll never go back to paying good money for harsh paper to blow my nose (once) in and then throw away. It’s a ridiculous concept when you think about it.
Good luck on your vintage hankies. I love vintage and think they are usually made from better materials.
I’ve always had a soft spot for cloth hankies. My grandfather carried one and it came in handy for lots besides its original use so I started ‘hankering’ [sorry] for some of my own when I was young. I ended up with a huge collection of colorful bandanas as a kid and used those as hankies for a long time but they are a little rough on the nose. Now I have both smooth cotton and flannel. I’ve found that the cotton ones do soften up over time if they are made of higher quality cotton. I have fairly small ones — probably about 8 inches square but find I prefer the larger sizes — 17 inches square.
However, I find I still have paper tissues around probably out of habit. Maybe my Tiny Choice will be to let that habit go. I can re-use the box to put in my cloth hankies so they can be as convenient as the paper ones. If you fold them together properly the next one pops up ready for use when you pull one out.
i’ve been using hankies for over a year now, and adore them! cotton is gentler on my nose than wood, i can pop them in the wash easily, and their durability means i can always have one in my purse, pocket, etc; they just don’t fall apart. and no more nasty dryer lint if one gets missed in the laundry! they get softer with use, too!
Great idea about the flannel hankies! I’ve been thinking of making some from an old sheet, but now I’ll use an old flannel sheet. Although I haven’t yet made the transition from tissues to hankies, I have, when necessary, used the bandanna that I keep in my purse as a hankie. Bandannas are wonderfully useful, I have one with me at all times.
i have some of my late grandmother’s vintage hankies, some of which are so lovely that i’m afraid to use them. :) there are a couple of the less dainty ones that rotate through my purse - especially since I’m often out with a toddler in tow, i always try to have a hankie on hand. My husband is also an allergy sufferer, so I converted him to hankies about 10 yrs ago when I realized how many tissues he would go through. (Plus, I really do think hankies are cool. way cooler than having a crumbling, ratty tissue in your pocket.)
i ordered some reusable face wipes several years ago from that hankettes shop (mentioned above) and got a free sample hankie, it is very nice and soft but a little small for my taste. it seemed to shrink a lot after several washings.
I have thought of trying to make my own, but i can’t believe it had never occurred to me to use old sheets or pajamas. brilliant! i am just getting over a nasty cold and am about to use up the rest of a box of lotion tissues that i already had on hand… maybe next time i will try flannel hankies. the plain cotton ones are definitely too rough for constant use on my sensitive nose, but flannel might be soft enough. i have some old flannel PJs i had just thrown in the reject pile, I think I know what I’ll be doing with them!
I love cloth hankies, too. My dad carries them, and when i started going green hankies were a great choice.
I leap off the boat when I’ve got a terrible cold (I don’t have enough hankies) but the idea of flannel….I may have a reason to get more.
I come from a long line of hanky users. When I was a girl, I used to keep a little hanky tucked up my sweater sleeve.
I can say exatly the same about myself :-))
I literally just switched over about 2 weeks ago and don’t have one regret. I purchased a few on eBay (make sure they’re cotton) and a package of them at Fred Meyer. I don’t have a sewing machine otherwise I would have preferred to make my own (flannel is a GREAT idea - I hear Etsy calling!). I don’t blow my nose too often, but I’ve been using the same one for a week now. Plus, I just feel so “old fashioned” and kinda trendy - I’m the only one that has one and it feels really cool!
What prompted me to make the switch? I recycle everything, and I mean EVERYTHING! When I looked at the trash in my bathroom it was all toilet paper/kleenex and it killed me. I started going without papertowels several months ago and have done just fine. So, I thought why not? I’m already down to about one small plastic grocery bag size of garbage every 2-3 weeks this should help cut down even more!
I make hankies with bandanas (4) mostly red ones so I can find them if I drop one. I wash about 8 per week. Haven’t bought tissues for 10 years . Love your blog. Sincerely,Dawn
I made the switch to hankies this year too. I had some smaller cloth napkins I had made out of some soft cotton that I decided to repurpose into hankies (I have WAY too many cloth napkins anyway). They are really just a hemmed square of fabric. I got over the ick factor by reminding myself that I usually had a crumpled used tissue stuffed into my pocket on an average day anyway so reusing a hanky wouldn’t be any worse. It’s softer on my nose too! I did have to go through 2 days of a runny nose but I just used up a whole bunch of hankies for that. I figure if I ran out before laundry day I could always hand wash them.
Hankies! My favorite subject! I’ve been carrying them for years, and especially like that they don’t get all over my clothes (like paper tissues) if I accidently leave them in my pocket when I do my laundry. We found some in organic cotton flannel (made in the USA by a woman owned company) and sell them for 3/$9.00. http://tinyurl.com/7zvnwy
Happy blowing!
Alline, apparently hankies are *many* peoples favorite subject!
Also I just have to repost here the quote you have on your hankies page:
“I am pretty sure that, if you will be quite honest, you will admit that a good rousing sneeze, one that tears open your collar and throws your hair into your eyes, is really one of life’s sensational pleasures.”
~Robert Benchley, 1932
Bandanas.
If you can’t find vintage hankies, look for bandanas.
I have a collection of over 30 bandanas - some once belonged to my mom or to her dad, many are over 15-20 years old (one I have was my mom’s in the 70s).
Bandanas are so useful - hanky, pot holder, sweat, dust filter, tourniquet - it’s almost as useful as, well, a TOWEL (and you always know where your towel is, right?).
Maybe I’m an old man but… I carry a bandana in my pocket or bag all the time. My boyfriend complains about the lack of facial tissues and often hits the TP roll but… I’m all about hankies, bandanas, dish rags, dish towels and paper napkins.
Laundry is not an issue - I just throw them into the laundry with everything else. They always get clean and I haven’t noticed any problems washing them in cold water, either. I confess - I rarely have to blow my nose these days since cutting out all the foods to which I am allergic, I never get sick (not a cold, sinus infection, tonsillitis or flu in almost 3 years).
For cat puke, I use paper from the recycling bin and put it into the compost heap.
This is kind of a tanget but…..I am constantly blowing my nose due to seasonal allergies and routine sinus infections. Out of curiousity, what were you allergic to that was causing all the colds etc?? Did you go to a naturopath? When did you realize it was allergies and not ‘just another cold/flu/sinus infection’? If you have already posted about here on TC perhaps just point me in the direction of that entry!!!
I’m a different Jenn, but with the same allergy-free status now that I determined that I have an intolerance for wheat and dairy. I’m not a true celiac-girl, but when I eat wheat and processed foods a few times, the allergies come roaring out, migraines, and the worst of it - mood swings. Now, I go year-round allergy-med free, and while I still wake up with a bit of a clogged schnozz, I’m clear the rest of the time, so long as I mind the diet. Like the other Jenn, I am rarely sick…can’t even remember the last time I had a cold since I gave up wheat 8 years ago. I did work with a naturopath and a whole team of other healing folk who helped me in my transition to the whole foods lifestyle.
Stepho - I think you’re responding to my post, I’m a different Jenn. :)
First, I was diagnosed as a “colicky” baby because I kept throwing up cow milk (my mom went on some antibiotics and the concern she expressed about how it would affect breast milk was treated with something to dry her up when I was less than a month old!). Switched me to soy - which I also threw up but would then go to sleep (ugh - and still do).
I was treated for lupus as a teen. Who knows - maybe it was a reaction to being oversaturated with food allergens for my entire life - I was treated with steroids, antibiotics, antinflammatories and finally surgery to remove a pair (yes) of spleens.
Then, for 20 years, I took 1000 mg/day of naprosyn for arthritis pain and was on antibiotics every 6 weeks or so. I would get strep/tonsillitis about 4-6x/year but was always told “We don’t take tonsils out anymore.” I had constant post-nasal drip and sinus infections.
Fall 2005 - my sister was seeing a nutritionist and on an “elimination diet.” This piqued my interest - I reviewed the materials she had from her nutritionist and did a lot of research. I conducted my own elimination diet - one book that was helpful was “The Yeast Connection” and all the related body of literature out there.
I quickly found that eating cow cheese resulted in instant arthritis flare ups in my hands within 15-20 minutes after eating. I also figured out that I was allergic to most legumes about a year later (gives me symptoms like the flu - I vomit in the back of my throat a bit, feel nauseous, energy plummets and then I sleep for 2-4 hours no matter where I am). A few tests confirmed: eggs, soy (legumes) and dairy.
Cutting that stuff out has resulted in a) not getting sick all the time; b) not having as many or as strong reactions to airborne or seasonal allergens (like cats or pollen). Of course, if I rub my eyes after petting a cat after he’s just been licking himself all day while I was at work - my eyes will be irritated the rest of the night.
But… I don’t get sick even a fraction as much as I did before because my body is no longer fighting my food. Of course, my metabolism is a bit wonky and it’s harder to keep weight off but some folks blame that on old age.
Jenn, I didn’t read through your last comment before I posted above! Thanks for sharing your journey…mine was a bit less dramatic, but same result in becoming very ill in my early 20s with no “medical” explanation…and finding a “natural” explanation was truly the best thing that ever happened to me.
One of the books that started me on my own elimination diet adventure was “Get Fit with Foods The Don’t Fight.” Its an older book, but really got me started down the path to true wellness.
And your last line is so true - we’re healthy now because our bodies are no longer fighting the food!
Oh, and to stay on topic….YAY HANKIES!! :)
Thanks so much to both of you for sharing with me! I cut out dairy this summer upon someone’s suggestion for mucus reduction, so my pollen allergies wouldn’t be so severe. When I did this I found I was feeling waaaay better in general. I will look into those books you both recommended, that seems like a good place to start. Yay hankies indeed! My dad has used them for years and as a kid I thought they were mega gross, but now they seem rather genius….
I “inherited” some lovely embroidered hankies from my gramma. I LOVE them! Not only do I use them stop the occasional sniffle, but they’re great for cutting down waste when I eat out — no disposable napkin, thanks, I’ve got my hankie. I keep a nose-hankie in my back pocket and restaurant hankie in my purse so I’m always prepared.
[…] Tissues Vs. Hankies: Gesundheit! […]
Love your latest blog! And you may love our product.
We’ve re-introduced handkerchiefs to the market, but renamed them hank&cheef. Hank&Cheef’s are an eco-chic alternative to disposable tissues. What many people don’t realize is that there is a young generation of tweens and younger that have totally bypassed the hanky genra and actually don’t know what one would be used for. Trust me I’ve done a lot of handkerchief etiquette training at trade shows and markets! I am so happy to see people that would normally not use them change their mind once they realize the negative impact disposable tissues are having on our environment!
I also totally advocate and encourage people to buy vintage hankies or make them themselves, but we also offer people a modern, unique option too!
hankandcheef.com
Cheers,
Regula
I started using the handkerchiefs I got form my Grandmother. I love them! The one that’s sitting beside on my desk is 11 inches by 11 inches.
[…] Tissues vs Hankies - Gesundheit! at Tiny Choices […]
[…] Handkerchiefs are an even better choice for the environment. My father handed the handkerchief habit down to me, but alas my kids think it is a gross concept […]
The mention of making hankies from jersey got me thinking. Cold and flu season and hockey season have a big overlap. Some people might enjoy having a scrap with the logo of a rival team to defile with snot.
[…] Handkerchiefs are an even better choice for the environment. My father handed the handkerchief habit down to me, but alas my kids think it is a gross concept […]
[…] Handkerchiefs are an even better choice for the environment. My father handed the handkerchief habit down to me, but alas my kids think it is a gross concept […]
[…] this time, instead of grabbing a big bandana I selected a hankie from my pile of vintage ones, folded it neatly into my back pocket and walked out the door. And I […]
I have a newborn who has outgrown her flannel receiving blankets. A few folds, snips, and “voila” a hankie. FANTASTIC reusable diaper wipes, too! Many new parents have oodles of seemingly unusable receiving blankets for virtual pennies. These might even work for toilet paper…a path I’ll cross with trepidation ;-)
sinus infection cure…
Here’ s where I engage the help of my trusty Netti Pot. Though it can be used daily for sinus irrigation, it can be especially effective during times of illness. I have one side of my nose that is more stuffed up than the other, so I started with the…
Well, I haven’t switched to Hankies, but the Husband always liked them. I now buy him a regular supply of hankies every year. You dont have to look for vintage ones, they are already out there new in 100% cotton, and now even in Bamboo.
They are inexpensive also, no more than a dozen or so boxes of paper tissues. They are still heavily bleached fabric, or dyed if you buy the Farmer Hankies (these are great also in the summer time if you have the really big ones, you can tie back your hair; soak them in some cold water and wear around your neck to keep cool when working in the garden; use them to wipe your brow)
Also, cotton hankies cut down on litter as you dont see people throw their hankies on the sidewalk after using. They take them home and wash them. Their germs are not spread to the public.
Another thing I noticed about paper hankies is the amount of lint from them. As you go to blow your nose you take in a big lungful of this lint….heaven only knows how much of that stuff we have stuck in the lungs. I have convinced myself now that I am going out to find some nice lady hankies for myself