What makes a good handkerchief

In truth, there are several fabrics you can use to make a handkerchief, but in our opinion, cotton is the most adapted. That being said, there are different weaves and different qualities of cotton. Made from quality fibres, organic cotton sateen is most durable and boasts a shiny finish. Soft to the touch, it is very lightweight in single ply and agreeably thick in a two-ply hanky. Organic cotton sateen can be found in most countries in a limited number of hues, and very few cool patterns unless custom printed.

On the bright side, if you like to keep things simple, you can usually find decent unbleached, undyed cotton sateen at a reasonable rate—although it will always set you back more than cheaper cotton sateen of a lesser quality. Combed cotton lawn sounds precious—and it kinda is! This super finely woven cotton is ultra-durable, thanks to its tight, sturdy weave. Double it up to form a great handkerchief and remember: cotton lawn gets more absorbent with time and use, so blow, wash, reuse as much as you can!

Poplin is quite sturdy and very finely woven. The awesome thing about organic cotton poplin is that it exists in a variety of hues—even if organic—and is quite easy to find. Knitted rather than woven, it can be stretched easily. Again—not the most instinctive fabric for your handkerchief because of its fluffy feel, but we give it extra points for softness. Your irritated nose just might enjoy the extra comfort!

Bamboo is the most absorbent fabric out there. Good to know about bamboo:. In fact, it becomes more and more absorbent—and softer with time! Another challenge with linen is dealing with wrinkles. Over time, people used hankies less and less because of the ick factor. Kleenex killed the handkerchief by running marketing that talked about the ick factor.

Vintage kleenex ads encouraged you to blow your nose and throw the tissue away. Kleenex will. So the message stuck. Fewer people bought handkerchiefs, and more people bought into the germ-free message of disposable products, like tissues. Some even make it all the way to the washing machine.

Or you find them bunched up in your pockets a few days later. Ideally, you want to fold it in a way that presents multiple clean surfaces of the hanky to blow your nose. Each use of the hanky should be on a new leaf. If you want a clever folding method our how to fold your handkerchief guide takes a bit of practice but will allow you to keep your pockets and hands free of ick.

A pocket square is folded to show out of your breast pocket. Of course, people will be less impressed by your debonair, dashing and dapper appearance if you remove the pocket square from your pocket to blow your nose. A pocket square is most definitely not the best handkerchief for blowing nose.

Pocket squares tend to be smaller than handkerchiefs. Blowing your nose with silk is like taking a bath in milk.

As a result, these handkerchiefs were more for show, rather than for blow. Just like guys do. You need great absorption, value for money, and something that complements your style.

Check out my list of the 6 Best Handkerchiefs for Women and let me know if I missed anything. As someone who has suffered from a runny nose my whole life, I searched high and low to find the best product to stifle my sniffles. They are, in effect, the same thing though. And many a good handkerchief can double up for this purpose. It should be small and attractive.

I mentioned pirates. When not around their necks, the kerchief is tied over the head. A fantastic idea if you are at sea and have unruly hair. My friend Craig never ceases to amuse with his flying-hanky trick, every time we have a few drinks in the pub. Others make hankies appear from the sleeve. Or some make things disappear. Whatever it may be - a little magic is pure entertainment. Raise your fresh white hanky above the rubble and give it a wave. Oops, you left the evidence on the table.

The police walk in, or maybe your girlfriend… Discreetly place your hanky over the offending object, and nobody will ever know. The beautiful black shine you gave them now has a brown muddy print on top. Dip a corner in water, or it may not be pretty but the traditional way is to spit, and give the shoes a wipe. Just remember to fold it away neatly in your pocket before the interview!

Not many pistol duels these days, I know. Nevertheless, the preferred way to start a fair pistol duel, if you are called on to do such a thing, is with a handkerchief. Taking ten paces and turning just had too many people getting confused. And you only have one go at it. You hold the handkerchief up high, and let go. By the time it hits the floor, one of the contenders will be dead.

Robbing a bank - hide your face. There is no more practical way to do this than with your hanky. Carefully tie a knot at the back of your head and make sure the handkerchief covers your nose and mouth. This should keep your identity secret for a little while. Much more classic approach than those Dali masks, and much less awkward to hide, once you are on the run.

Another one for you blackguards, or perhaps to defend yourself against the blackguards - fill your pocket-handkerchief with rocks and BASH. That smelly sewer! No worries, cover your mouth and nose with a bunched up hanky and no more gagging. Every other day for me. Discreetly retire to the restroom, dip one corner of the hanky in water, and rub out that stain.

Dry it off a little with the other corner. This is going to clean you up nicely. Hankies can help find peace and tranquility. Some people swear by ironing as a method to relax, and focus the mind away from the worries of the world. There is no better ironing meditation than creating perfect, little, crease-free squares from your handkerchiefs.

And many more usages! Leave a comment below to tell me what you would use your kerchief for. Beckett Simonon does not condone the use of handkerchiefs for any illegal or inappropriate activities mentioned in this blog. Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for upcoming posts. We would love to hear from you.