to think that hankies are possibly the most disgusting thing ever?

[TheBloodManCometh]

A lot of older people I know seem to have a sticky, crusty rag stuffed up their sleeve and in their pocket which they whip out to cough into and/or empty the contents of their nose into.

Surely this isn't hygienic or even useful? What makes it better than tissues?

Better for the environment?

YANBU. DH used them and puts them (used) under his pillow. What comes out of that mans nose is not environmentally friendly

Yanbu - revolting!

Being good for the environment is the only good thing about them. Just the thought of a hanky makes me start to gag a bit.

Because I have terrible hayfever and tissues tend to throw up miniscule bits of stuff and they make me sneeze more!

I never, in hay fever season, go out without at least six handkerchiefs. And they are all beautifully laundered and DAZZLING WHITE.

So there!

They are more eco friendly as they are not disposable.

YANBU. The concept of catching all that gunk and carrying it round with you is just disgusting.

When we moved to our current house it needed a complete makeover and we couldn't use a washing machine. I did the occasional laundromat run but tried to do some stuff at home, and at that time DH used hankies. I still gag at the memory of trying to wash those by hand. After just one attempt, I told him he either used tissues or washed them himself.

No they life savers. I have hay fever and tissues set me off. I love hankies and change them an wash them daily. Better for environment.

Last attempt of tissues I didn't stop sneezing for 20 painful minutes until someone gave me one of my hankies. Tissues are from the devil.....awful invention... They should carry a health warning.

I love my hankies, I always have a few in my bag and used ones go in one of the little compartments until I get home and can bung them in the wash.

I hate using tissues, I always end up with bits of fluff everywhere.

Some posters don't know what it was like before tissues were 'invented'. Piece of newspaper, anyone? There was a time when, if you had a handkerchief, you were thought to be posh.

washing someone else's used hankies?

YANBU. They are disgusting.

DF has a hanky and changes it daily. I have a couple that I love and use . I recall my grandmother boiling hers on the aga!!!!

yanbu they are always crusty and they offer it like a holy relic and you take it praying you will not have to use it!!

I have quite a few lovely lace handkerchiefs. I use them exclusively for dabbing my eyes at weddings and funerals. We went to a funeral a couple of weeks ago, and my husband took my handkerchief and wiped his nose on it. I was a bit .

I used them on my DCs much softer on little noses.

I love my hankies. Tissues make my nose sore and leave bits of fluff, not elegant. Also they leave bits everywhere when they inevitably get in the laundry.

I don't really see that me putting mine up my sleeve (where it is well away from anyone else) is any worse than me leaving it in the public waste paper bin.

And I'm not old

Clean hankies are far softer on a chapped nose than a tissue.

I put them in my bra when I had very sore nipples from feeding a newborn. Much softer than disposable breast pads.

Dp uses them. I find it revolting. Tempted to get him to sign a prenup saying if he uses one in my sight after we're married I get the house.

I could never never NEVER wash snot filled hankies for anyone. My DF used to use them and my mother (a clean freak) wouldn't allow them in the washing machine because she said that was unhygienic. She always boil-washed them in batches - in the soup pot. Boak.

they are only disgusting to freako people who are OTT about germs

I use hankies when I remember. Same reason as others have given - they're softer and tissues irritate my hay fever. I wouldn't give a used one to someone else to use though! And they go in the washing machine, along with the toddler clothes that may have vomit or poo on them - don't really see it as that unhygienic to be honest!

liberty

I have genuine issues about snot. I can deal with wee, poo and vomit. But not snot