A lot of things I've been doing for quite a while, like using bicarb soda and apple cider vinegar to 'wash' and 'condition' my hair. There hasn't been a bottle of shampoo in our house for over a year, and then there's my homemade deodorant which I'm still happy with. I've used soapnuts for the laundry for a year or so too. And recently I have been using Amanda's recipe for dishwasher powder extender, which is working pretty well. I've also switched to alternative 'ladies' things' which has been such a liberation from having to peruse that part of the supermarket for overpriced solutions.
So, given all that freakiness I already do, wasn't it time for the humble hanky to come back into our lives?
I grew up with hankies and honestly can't remember when and how we all seemed to make the transition to (bleached virgin wood pulp) tissues. With five noses in the house the cost adds up and it's hardly environmentally friendly.
So I've made some hankies, and dug some out of my cupboard, and been given a bunch of sweet old ones by my Mum. And everyone seems quite happy to use them.
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| inexpert use of narrow hemming foot, but then double gauze was probably not the easiest way to learn |
And there's something rather charming about pulling 'Waltzing Matilda' out of your pocket to sneeze into.
Do you use hankies?
Does the idea of snotty hankies being washed in with your clothes creep you out?
- Jane x
Chris has the obligatory man hanky in his pocket at all times but the rest of us use tissues. I think hankies could make a comeback. The washing thing does kind of gross me out. Maybe they need their own separate wash. Can relate re budgetary constraints!
ReplyDeleteWe don't use hankies, but I grew up with them. My Mum used to pin them to our tops so we couldn't lose them. She even used to pin them to our uniform and send us off to school (this was in the 80's) that way. I used to hate it! I've started collecting a few with pretty embroidery on them from op shops- only unused ones. I think they will make a come back- not the pinning on poor children's fronts though, I hope. Cx
ReplyDeleteLove hankies, they're kind of like a grown up mini blankie to carry around. I don't have a problem with them in the wash - the kids use their sleeves all the time when I'm not looking. Don't know about hard boogers though....
ReplyDeleteFair call about the sleeves! I was thinking maybe a hot water soak when I know the boogers may be a bit horrid...
DeleteMy sister-in-law won't have hankies in the house as they're just too unhygenic for her. We're far more lax though and always use them - after all a tissue is useless for wiping up a drip of paint when you're on the stepladder with nothing else to hand, winding around a finger to stop it bleeding, spitting on to rub a mark off a child's face, tying a knot in so you don't forget ... My goodness that all sounds terrible. I like your Waltzing Matilda hanky - my favourite one here is Learn and Obey The Rules for Crossing the Road. You really should have linked this post to Snotgate.
ReplyDeleteYes the spit-on-a-hanky thing, classic childhood memory! I would so love a hanky about Learn and Obey the Rules for Crossing the Road. Promotional hankies. I think that should surely make a comeback.
DeleteI was wondering when I did the 'labels' for this post why I didn't have one that said 'snot'!
I love the idea of using hankies, but haven't quite got there yet. It's kind of on my list of things to do. Your post reminded me of a post I read by Soule Mama a few years back for a hankie dispenser...I think this should be your next step!
ReplyDeleteCheck it out - http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2009/08/for-handkercheifs.html
Oh thanks for that link, that's a brilliant idea!
DeleteGiven the amount of tissues my son goes through I would: A. Need hundreds of hankies; B. Definitely have enough to do a whole separate hanky wash at any given moment. It's not the washing them that bothers me, its the having used ones in the pocket...
ReplyDeleteAh see I have tended to walk around with a used tissue in my pocket all day and re-use that. I don't have a problem with the snot-in-pocket thing but I believe some cultures find it repulsive! I'd hope that except in extreme snot cases, a hanky could last all day.
DeleteThe boy goes through about 7 tissues at a time.. a hanky might last an hour :)
DeleteWe use rags for cleaning up and hankies for our nose in our house, to reduce paper towel and tissue usage. I haven't bought a box of tissues in forever - if you're at my house and desperate and can't find a hanky, you're stuck with toilet paper, sorry!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite type of hanky is pretty unappealing visually - ripped up men's t-shirts. The knit fabric is so much less abrasive than paper! Perfect for when you have a really rotten cold. But I also have a small collection of adorable vintage hankies for when I want to be more presentable.
I wash kitchen rags, snot rags, and towels together, on hot. I've never once pulled a hanky out of the wash anything less than perfectly clean. I washed Joe's cloth diapers for a long time, so snot is NO BIG DEAL in comparison to that (and that wasn't that big a deal either).
Glad to hear of your happy washing experience. On hot in with the towels sounds like a good idea.
DeleteI'd love to eventually be a tissue-free house.
We used to be a hanky or toilet paper kind of house, but then my husband read that using tissues can help you get better quicker because you are throwing away the germs each time. So I have bought about three boxes of tissues in the last 6 months, but I have noticed that we tend to go back to hankies a lot, so I'm sure tissues is just a fad in our house and the fad is dying out.
ReplyDeleteI used to wash the hankies in a hot wash with our towels, and it never bothered me. But we can't currently use a hot wash on our new machine, so that has gone by the way side. They still go in with the towels on a pretty heavy duty wash cycle, so I'm sure they are clean, but a little part of me still irked since they have not been through a hot wash. However, I do think it is good to be exposed to a small amount of germs, so it doesn't bother me that much.
Jane, I am very curious about your "lady things". I have looked up reusable ideas, but I'm not sure how comfortable I feel about it. If you can bring yourself to write a post on it, I certainly would be interested to read it (not sure how everyone else would feel though).
I have replied by email about lady things but if anyone else is interested, just ask.
DeleteI love that you are bringing back the hanky! I hope to follow suit. We don't use paper towels or napkins. I only draw the line at toilet paper, recycled sure, washable? No thanks.
ReplyDeleteYep, my thoughts exactly!
DeleteOoh, yeah, me too. I admire those brave souls who venture that deep into green living, but as long as I'm doing the laundry, no way. Shudder.
DeleteI use the hanky! I make hankies out of scraps of left over fabrics - soft cottons of course - and I love them. They are so individual and soft on the nose. Free and great use of scraps. When I have really lovely fabric I make them for gifts. Go the hankie!
ReplyDeleteI think I'll be handling all my fabric scraps now with a view to their softness-on-the-nose! And what a good idea to give them as gifts and encourage the hanky love :)
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