Handkerchiefs.

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
I want to talk about hankies. Handkerchiefs. Those little white squares that I grew up with, that my Mum would tuck up into my sleeve, tuck in the waistband of my pants, make sure I always had in my uniform pocket when I left for school.

I spurned them as a young adult because, y'know, they were a childhood thing and I was ALL GROWED UP now! But I re-discovered their value when I became a Mom myself.

I have carried a hankie in my purse for as long as I can remember, more durable than a piece of paper towel or a tissue, and so handy. Sure, you can blow a runny nose with one, but I've also used my trusty hankie as a tourniquet, a dip-stick wiper, a windshield de-fogger, a binding for a wound, a grandkid face wiper, and a sun shield on a naked neck...to name just a few things. Very versatile and reusable too after a quick run through the wash. I estimate I've owned the hankies I currently cycle through for...oh....15 years now? One's getting a bit thin, guess I should add more to my wishlist.

Do you carry a hankie?
 

Only time my wife has a purse with her is when she goes to work. It's a "carry in your hand" purse, not over the shoulder type. Any other time, she has a coin purse that she carries in her jeans or shorts. If she needs a tissue, she will find a ladies restroom or use the tissue box in our vehicle.
 
Haven't used a hankie in years, except as part of a costume. I prefer tissues.

But you reminded me of something I haven't thought about in many years; when I was a kid I had a set of hankies with a different day of the week embroidered on each one. It seemed important to me at the time to carry the "right" one for that day! :D
 
I remember those boxes of hankies Sunny, with the day of the week, or initials in the corner...

I haven't used cloth hankies since I was a kid, always tissues and I carry wet wipes and tissues in my bag always...
 
hollydolly said:
I remember those boxes of hankies Sunny, with the day of the week, or initials in the corner...

I haven't used cloth hankies since I was a kid, always tissues and I carry wet wipes and tissues in my bag always...
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I have tissues too, in my bag. And wet wipes in the car. Still I carry a hankie!
 
Never. I have Kleenex mini packs in my vehicles, and cube pack dispensers by the couch, bed and my desk. As a kid, I always thought the idea of blowing one's nose into a cloth square and then putting that mess back into a pocket or purse was gross as heck.
 
Hankies have always grossed me out. How many times can you use one and put it back in your pocket? Then I see in movies men take a hankie out of their pocket and give it to a woman who's crying, then the men will put the hankie back in their pocket. And why would anyone want to "borrow" someone else's hankie? :sick:

Give me tissues or wet wipes thanks.
 
Keesha said:
No! I prefer using tissues. The idea of a dirty handkerchief stuffed back in my pocket I find a bit ....gross but I’m a bit strange that way. :eek:nthego:
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I don't think that's strange at all! I'm a very fastidious person in most every regard, so I have to laugh at myself for not feeling grossed out by a used hankie floating around in my pocket or purse :lol:

I will say, if I have a full on cold, or my allergies are really acting up, the only thing I"ll use are the tissues with the lotion in them. My nose will chaff really easily, and get painful and raw with constant wiping or blowing, and those lotion infused tissues are an absolute godsend to me!!!

The hankie-in-the-purse thing is far more useful to me for things other than hefty nose blowing!
 
I use tissues but now I’m wondering what people used before cloth handkerchiefs were invented or have they been around as long as clothing has?

I don’t have time now to look this up, so if someone knows....:)
 
Ronni said:
I don't think that's strange at all! I'm a very fastidious person in most every regard, so I have to laugh at myself for not feeling grossed out by a used hankie floating around in my pocket or purse :lol:

I will say, if I have a full on cold, or my allergies are really acting up, the only thing I"ll use are the tissues with the lotion in them. My nose will chaff really easily, and get painful and raw with constant wiping or blowing, and those lotion infused tissues are an absolute godsend to me!!!

The hankie-in-the-purse thing is far more useful to me for things other than hefty nose blowing!
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Yes I figured as much, considering you display some OCD tendencies. I do also which is why I notice others who are the same.
Quality tissues are definitely needed for colds so YES to this. Delicate noses can get chafed which we don’t want or like.
CHECK! :lol:
 
I have a bunch from the old days that were my moms or given to me, including some cute holiday ones. I never liked the idea of blowing my nose in them . Ick. But I'm using one or two of the pure linen ones as the very best thing for cleaning eyeglasses! & always wash them w/o fabric softener.
 
Having lived in Greenwich Village for several years, I can attest to the fact that hankies have a language of their own among the gay community. The color and pattern of a hankie each have specific meanings, as do the pocket (left or right) that you wear them in.
 
I remember using a handkerchief just a couple of times when I was a young child, mostly though I used tissues. I still use tissues only and never leave the house without a couple in my pocket. Between summer allergies and my nose running like a faucet in cold weather just from the temperature of the air, I'm wiping or blowing my nose throughout the year.
 
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