Are Handkerchiefs More Useful Than we Think?

For as long as I can remember, my parents, grandparents and other extended family members always had and used handkerchiefs. It was the done thing. But for some, the notion of a handkerchief is old-fashioned, unsanitary and socially unacceptable. Until about eight years ago, I would have agreed.

My childhood recollections — or possibly trauma, depending on your interpretation — of people using handkerchiefs usually included one of two things.

One: using handkerchiefs seemed to give them permission to blow harder and for longer than they would with tissues, or at least sound like a trombone.

Or two: my maternal grandmother would dab a hankie with saliva (when face wipes weren’t in vogue) to wipe my face clean.

When I was about three years old, though, I ‘accidently’ inhaled a peppermint Tic Tac up my nose while standing with my grandmother at the top of her driveway, waiting for a taxi. With the Tic Tac wedged uncomfortably inside the top of my nose, my grandmother, as well-intentioned as she was, pulled out her clean hankie to help dislodge it.

First, she tried to push it down from the outside, but that didn’t work. It was pretty embarrassing having my grandmother put her hankie-covered finger up my nose to finally wiggle it out, with many a passer-by wondering what she was doing. Mind you, she lived within walking distance of Chadstone Shopping Centre, now known as The Fashion Capital.

Childhood trauma aside, it wasn’t until I visited an exquisite linen store in Victoria’s charming pioneer-like town of Maldon in adulthood that I purchased my first hankie.

Was it the delicate silken fabric, the impeccable hand stitching, or the vibrant, pocket-sized art-like design that won me over? Or maybe it had something to do with practicality, maturity and being more eco-conscious. Most likely, it was a combination of all of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The benefits of using a handkerchief

Whether it’s in your bag or a coat pocket, a clean, unused and preferably organic cotton, bamboo or silk handkerchief (or at least naturally-dyed and without irritating allergens) is a handy thing to have.

1. For starters, you can wipe a sweaty brow, a grimy face (preferably without the dab of saliva) or a drippy nose when needed.

2. In addition, a hankie is a great thing to cover your mouth or nose with if you cough or sneeze, providing you can access it in time.

3. Instead of going overboard with hand sanitiser, a handkerchief can be used to open a door handle on a public toilet. 

4. A handkerchief is terrific for those small emergencies, like a pricked finger or minor spills.

5. On extremely hot days, hankies can be immersed in cold water and folded as a cool compress on the back of your neck.

6. Although traditionally offered by gentlemen to women, as often depicted in old Hollywood movies, hankies are amazing for wiping tears. However, if you’re considering giving hankies as a gift, in some cultures, particularly Asian, it’s considered taboo and/or inappropriate. Apparently, they believe there will be the shedding of many tears for the recipient, potentially associating them with death. It’s all how you look at it.

7. Handkerchiefs are washable, reusable and more durable, hence being more economical and environmentally friendly, unlike tissues, which, as we know, are intended for single-use. It’s thought that Australians use about 273,000 tonnes of tissue products annually.

8. As handkerchiefs are made from softer fabric, like cotton or silk, they are kinder on the skin, especially on the inside of the nostrils where it’s more delicate. That means hankies won’t be as abrasive as tissues are when you have colds or flu.

9. Hankies can reduce the ick factor. Given their size and durability, they minimise snotty overflow.

10. While they don’t have to be particularly fancy, there are various styles and prints available, especially artistic/designer patterns. In many ways, hankies can be used as a stylish accessory.

11.Unlike tissues that accidently get left in clothing, hankies don’t leave annoying white flakes that have been strewn through the wash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cons of using handkerchiefs

While I’m in favour of using handkerchiefs, there are a few downsides.

1. Once used, especially for nose blowing with colds or flu, not only do you have to wash them relatively quickly in hot water, you have to have plenty of clean hankies in reserve. Otherwise, your used hankie harbours germs, especially if stuffed in your pocket or sleeve, which could infect others if they accidently come in contact with it.

2. With that in mind, and although I keep my tissue usage to a minimum, in the event of having a cold or serious virus, I usually find it best to use a balance of clean hankies and BPA-free recycled tissues, not those made from wood pulp and bleached with chemicals. And in terms of wisely disposing of those used tissues, there are some different theories on composting them. However, a Bokashi bin seems to be the most popular.

3. Some believe that after washing and drying hankies, the heat from ironing kills off anything else that might be lurking around. What’s more, ironing, which is my least favourite domestic activity, gives handkerchiefs a neat appearance, especially since they look lined and wrinkly once dried.

Thankfully, the pros of using handkerchiefs outweigh the cons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you pro-handkerchief? If not, why?

By Kristin Lee

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