Works For Me Wednesday: The Virtuous Handkerchief
At one time, every real "lady" carried a handkerchief with her in social settings. (And, of course, there was the romance of a gentleman offering his handkerchief to a distressed damsel.) However, the virtue of these lovely articles now seem to be much forgotten.
Grocery stores offer a ridiculously ample selection of tissue boxes; begging us to buy these items, just so we can throw them away. (Whose budget needs that?) Yes, there are recycled tissues available, but waste is still being generated in some form (and monopolizing part of my budget).
I have been in love with hankies for most of my life. As a preschooler, I began collecting them, and hankies given to me by grandmothers are now family heirlooms. I carried one at our wedding (the middle one in the photo, with little pink rosebuds). Also when we married, I gave gifts of Irish linen handkerchiefs to my new sisters-in-law (in coordinating with our Irish-themed wedding).
During my recent thrift store shopping, I came across another hankie (the purple-trimmed one in the photo), and I quickly tossed it into my cart. Since I was shopping at a store that charges by the pound, I knew the lovely, lightweight handkerchief would cost me next to nothing. (And its cost-saving benefits would far outweigh the cost I did pay.) As hankies are so small, they are easily tossed into a load of laundry, with minimal impact.
During my recent thrift store shopping, I came across another hankie (the purple-trimmed one in the photo), and I quickly tossed it into my cart. Since I was shopping at a store that charges by the pound, I knew the lovely, lightweight handkerchief would cost me next to nothing. (And its cost-saving benefits would far outweigh the cost I did pay.) As hankies are so small, they are easily tossed into a load of laundry, with minimal impact. I have not purchased any boxes of tissue since this spring (except for a box requested by my little sister during her visit this summer). We are "surviving" delightfully without them! It has been such a joy to see my grocery list of "needed" items shrinking.
I always carry a pretty hankie in my purse or pocket, and Gen always has one in her diaper bag (and instantly asks for it if she sneezes!). We even met a little girl (about age 3), carrying her own little hankie at the library yesterday! (Perhaps the handkerchief-carrying virtue is returning?)
I rarely see hankies in thrift stores, but I always like to keep my eye out for them. If they have some slight damage, holes can often be mended by a bit of embroidery. Or, you can make your own!
What about you? Do you carry a handkerchief? It works for me!
For more Works For Me Wednesday ideas, visit Rocks in My Dryer.
Posts
19 comments:
Those are beautiful hankies! I have recently begun the journey toward simple living, and I am currently working on eliminating consumable paper products. I was recently blessed to inherit about 20 lovely embroidered and/ or lace trimmed vintage hankies from a family member. It just feels so feminine to have a little square of such loveliness in my pocket; not to mention it feels so much softer than tissue.
Oh, wow- what an incredible gift! :) Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your new hankies!
Blessings,
Michele :)
I have a few of them given to me by grandmothers, but I just can't get into using them. One - it weirds me out, two - they're to pretty to use!!
Growing up, I was always SO grossed out by my grandfather's hankies. But then I met my husband, who also always has a handkerchief. As it turns out, they're incredibly useful! Always there to clean up a spill, wipe a sweaty brow, hide a sneeze, you name it. I can't tell you how many times my husband has come to my rescue with his hankie. All that to say, I've changed my mind. Hankies are great! Now I need my own. (Or maybe I should just let him continue to rescue me ;-)
i have about 20-25 hankies, all given to me from my precious grandmothers. i have been collecting them, not wanting to use them for various reasons.
i have been on this journey to simplify life & learn how to re-use, compact & go green...i haven't made the plunge to get rid of the klennex quite yet! although we just had our first eco-friendly birthday party with real cloth napkins, real plates & a real table cloth.
it was absolutely lovely, just like your hankie collection.
Just a note-
The very "special" old ones, I don't use anymore. They're just safely stored away. I keep more "utilitarian" ones (without much sentimental value!) to use on a regular basis.
The "ick issue" is reduced by two important factors: ....Have lots! Therefore, no unnecessary sharing takes place, and you won't have to personally reuse icky ones. Toss it in the wash, and grab another.
...Wash, Wash, Wash! :) Finding an old used hanky isn't any grosser than finding an old used kleenex stuffed under the couch cushion or car seat. (Maybe it's less gross, actually. They don't disintegrate like tissues do.)
Hope that helps! :) Thanks, ladies for sharing about your hanky collections. I love it!
Blessings,
Michele
Michele,
My grandpa always carried a hanky, and I was given some in my hope chest of his. One of his red ones I do carry around if I have a cold. It just makes me feel better. :)
I had hankies when I was a very young girl. And they are very much forgotten. I imganine long before the days of hauling kids off to preschool, daycare, and the such one could be used and tossed in the dirty clothes bin, where now mine would for sure collect germs as they were stuffed into the seats of my car, the purse I used three weeks ago, or a pocket in a jacket. LOL. They are beautiful and worth of collecting.
During a cold or allergy season would one have to carry several hankies around? I like the idea of not wasting, but how do the hankies hold up compared to disposable ones? Thank you for never fearing to post about all ranges of topics. :)
Hi, Elizabeth,
I, too, run around town with a little one- just as others have done for decades before us. Often I do find them stuffed in various places! :) That's why it's good to have "back ups! :) The "germs" are easily washed out.
(But there is often that sense of "specialness" about a hanky to some little ones, that seems to prevent loss, to some extent.) My sisters and I rarely to never lost a hanky, due to that factor, thankfully.
Simplicity also helps prevent the "lost and found." Since I only have one purse, one coat, and one car, things don't stay hidden for long! :) It is amusing, though, when I find one in an odd place!
Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Michele
Great post! I've been wanting to make the switch to hankies, but hubby thinks its gross. Maybe I will make a whole bunch and try again. :-)
austen_n_burney-
Great question! :) I guess it would depend on the "need." :) A hanky does seem to get a few more uses out of it than a disposable tissue. (However, the "grossness factor" might prevent much reuse prior to washing!) :)
A few hankies for short outings might be appropriate, in flu season. (Or one solid, big handkerchief, like grandpas used to carry!) Those lovely, lady-like hankies aren't always sufficient for some situations.
And if disposability is a true, dire need, most public restrooms still supply rolls of toilet paper. :) hehe
However, I would suggest, that if your illness is requiring an overwhelming number of tissues/hankies, that perhaps you should avoid the outing? Your health (and others) might be better served if you were home resting with a cup of tea and chicken soup. (And you know I'd bring you a cup, if I could!) :)
The handkerchiefs certainly hold up much better than tissues. (As you can see, with many washes, some have held up for decades!) They eventually do soften and wear thin with use, but that's a much better return on your investment than purchasing lots of tissues.
Most will eventually reach a time when they should wisely be "retired." :) An old, but "useless" handkerchief can then be turned into a lavender sachet for your dresser.
Blessings,
Michele :)
Sharmista-
It really isn't any grosser than cloth diapers. :)
How does your husband feel about those?
Michele :)
Great idea, Nichelle, to revive the hankie! They're so adorable. I always thought they were gross to wipe your nose and stick them back in your pocket; but I found a way I don't mind it so much - the Thieves Essential Oil blend from Young Living (just google it:) kills virtually all parasites (bacteria, viruses, etc.) all you have to do is spray a diluted solution on your hankie and you're good to go for the day:)
I have got to check out our local thrift store! You always find such neat stuff!
Great idea, Gina! :) I have heard of the Thieves Essential Oil.
I believe a homemade linen spray, made with antimicrobial essential oils (I use lavender & tea tree) might work similarly).
Thanks!
Michele :)
Thanks for this post. I found a couple handkerchiefs at an Amish General Store and picked them up for my family as stocking stuffers but was hoping to make a few for them as well.
I don't have any "pretty handkies" , but I have recently been using old receiving blankets, cut to size (I also use these for wipes for Jonathan, along with a diluted apple cidar vinegar solution).
These work great to wipe noses and are nice and soft.
Also, believe it or not, you can re-use commercial baby wipes (costco's in particular). I discovered this when I would "accidetally" throw the used wipes into the washer with his cloth diapers. They dry well, and are very soft which make them ideal for nose-wiping. They seem to be able to be used over and over....is that gross?
You're amazing Michele!
Carrie,
We have washed & reused Costco wipes in the past, too (not the poopy ones, though). After awhile, they do seem to disintegrate, though. :) Perhaps you're having better luck than I have?
Blessings,
Michele
My sisters and I all held hankies for our weddings. I have dozens of them. I'm just so attached to most of them that I can't seem to use them! I hate that I own anything that I love too much to use, but I have very few things that fall into such a catagories. However, there are many that I don't feel are too special to sneeze into. You have convinced me to make the switch! I'm going to pull some out today and start using them for this allergy season in place of disposable tissue! Thanks for the tip!
Post a Comment