We already talked about one essential item that all men should carry in their pockets: the pocketknife. But there’s another manly item that we should be toting around, too. A good clean hanky can come in handy when you have to dab your forehead, you’ve got snot running out your nose, or when a gal starts tearing up.
Why Carry a Handkerchief?
Handkerchiefs are, well, pretty handy. While women carry a purse stocked with things like tissue packs (and enough supplies to survive on a desert island for several days), most men do not. And yet our noses run just as often as our female counterparts. When you carry a hankie, you don’t have to go scrounging around for a tissue to deal with your dripping shnoz or wipe your nose on your sleeve. And you can mop your brow with it when you’re sitting on the front porch drinking mint juleps. This what I mainly use handkerchiefs for. I started the habit when I lived in Mexico and walked the hot, dusty streets of Tijuana. It’s nice to have something to wipe off the sweat and dirt off your face.
But the best reason to carry a handkerchief has nothing to do with you. It’s the chance to lend it to others that’s commends this practice the most. Be sure to put one in your pocket when you go see a tear-jerker movie with your girlfriend or accompany your wife to a funeral. When women are feeling vulnerable, they’ll really appreciate your offer of a soft hankie. It’s a gallant and chivalrous gesture; there’s just something comforting about it.
And as a bonus, they’re less wasteful. Think of all the tissues you could keep from throwing away. The handkerchief is to the tissue as the reusable diaper is to Pampers.
Getting Over the Ick Factor
There is an inverse relationship between the handkerchief’s popularity and the rise of our germa-phobe culture. A society that sprays the air with disinfectant to rid it of those pesky bacterium and totes hand sanitizer on key chains looks eschew at the reusable tissue. I think hankie ignorance is partly to blame. Having not grown up around handkerchief-carrying men, it seems some people are under the impression that a hankie is used over and over again, all week long. But a man should take a clean handkerchief each day, and launder them weekly. It should go without saying that when offering a lady your handkerchief, it should always be an unused, clean one. You should probably tell her that when you hand it over, as to allay any fears she might have about what’s lurking in its folds.
Even so, there are probably still those who think the handkerchief is too dirty even for daily use. To those people I say, “If it’s your hankie, why are you afraid of your own germs?” Handkerchiefs are pretty big and provide ample space in which to blow one’s nose multiple times without the snot ever overlapping.
Finally, grow up. You’re a man, and there’s nothing wrong with a little sweat or snot.
How to Carry a Handkerchief
First of all, don’t confuse the pocket square with a handkerchief. Pocket squares are pieces of cloth that should be visibly sticking out of the breast pocket of your suit. They’re not appropriate for hankie use because they’re expensive; you don’t want to be soaking a nice piece of silk with your sweat. Of course they could do in a real pinch. But typically a hankie is carried in your pants pocket, out of sight.
Handkerchiefs don’t have to be fancy. Just a plain white one will do. But there’s nothing wrong with going for ones with a little style. I have my initial embroidered on mine to add a touch of class. They generally come pretty cheap, so you won’t have to worry about giving them out to other people. And a gentleman never asks for his handkerchief back.
What do yout all think? Is the hankie due a comeback or should it be left as a relic in the past?
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I carry two handkerchiefs with me wherever I go, right along with my Swiss Army knife. As Boy Scout, it goes right along our motto of “Be Prepared.” A handkerchief prepares you for a lot of things, and more than just mopping sweat or wiping your nose. You can use it to clean your glasses, dry your hands when the bathroom is out of paper towels, or even stop the bleeding if someone needs first aid. It is a very useful item indeed.
I always have a handkerchief lying around, I should use it more often. It would be pretty usefull when hunting, or at school when you have a dripping nose.
Long time hanky guy here.
I found some hankies at Target in the men’s clothing section (by underwear). 6 for $5. For me that is the easiest place to pick them up.
I find a handkerchief to be a wonderful aid. For whatever reason, I ALWAYS have to blow my nose within 3 minutes of beginning to eat, and restaurants never stock tissues. Using paper towels or pieces of my napkin never work well either, I am slightly embarrassed to leave a balled up piece of anything on my plate as someone will be using their hands to clean that off. I generally carry a spare one in my jacket (i always wear a jacket of some kind just for the pocket room) and i always carry the one i use in my back pocket. I iron them and fold them neatly and they go in the back right pocket. I carry a thin front pocket wallet because i can’t stand anything thick in my back pocket. Any cash I carry goes in a monogrammed silver moneyclip that I got as a gift for graduation college from a job. I get pleasantly surprised looks on the moneyclip, by the way, and I recommend one.
I have become a handkerchief, actually a bandanna devotee since moving to Singapore. Most public restrooms do not have paper towels for drying ones hands most people do the “S’pore shake and slap” or worse the walk around with wet hands (which I don’t really understand) but, I prefer to dry my hands and not on my pants…so a bandanna works well as my own personal towel.
On a side note the stalls are not equipped with tissue either unless it’s a industrial sized roll stationed near the door, which is to serve both purposes TP and paper towel… ever tried pulling on a tissue roll with wet hands? mostly an exercise in futility.
Restaurants (other than nicer places) don’t provide napkins either, everyone carries the little packets of tissue which are used instead. Again, I prefer something a bit more substantial than a thin bit of tissue, for most every thing.
@ Scott:
Point taken, but as a gentlemen, I would submit that there is probably a better way to articulate your issue?
I have been carrying a hanky for quite some time now. I still tend to find a tissue when blowing my nose, but a hanky will work in a pinch. I am also CPR trained and a hanky can be used as a barrier if no masks are available.
As Snoop Dogg would say “I keep a blue flag hang out my back side”
Like the Motor City Madman says, “I’m getting ready to leave the house in the morning, so let’s see: wallet, comb, coin purse, handkerchief, pocket knife, gun — just the things a guy might need during the day.”
What kind of man can’t even blow his nose? Of course I carry a hanky. And yes, I have given out many a hanky to a lady in distress, and it is a noble gesture, always well-received. My stock is a little low, need to replenish.
I’m 42 and I have carried a handkerchief for as long as I can remember and certainly since my first day of school. My dad, who is 78, has been carrying one his whole life.
The author is correct about the effect on a lady, when a gentleman can provide a clean handkerchief at the appropriate time.
The handkerchief is very helpful, when caring for children. I can’t remember the number of times my dad or my mom (yes, she had one in her purse) pulled out a handkerchief to soak up tears, staunch the dribble of blood from a scratch, or clean a nose after catching me using a sleeve instead of the handkerchief in my pocket. Now I use one with my children and have learned the benefits of a handkerchief over an alcohol-soaked wipe.
Great article. Thank you.
I learned to carry a handkerchief from my grandfather, who was a farmer, and from my father as well. I’ve carried once since high school; one of those little touches that gave me a little confidence and sense of my own style. Thanks to allergies and sinus problems and colds, a good hanky can be much more useful than a box of kleenex. As stated in the article, it also comes in handy for mopping up sweat.
And as for other applications, I have a prime example: I watched a child go face-first into a glass wall at an arcade while running after her family. Her nose was bleeding before she stopped skidding across the floor. I immediately pulled out my (thankfully, clean and unused) hanky and applied it to stop the bleeding while my wife ran to get her family’s attention. Naturally, I let her keep it. Hopefully she still has it as a memento.
I learned the practice of carrying a hanky from my grandpa. It’s been really handy to have one ever since I started wearing glasses. I’ve started carrying two of them because of my granddaughters.
I learned the practice of carrying a hanky from my grandpa. It’s been really handy to have one ever since I started wearing glasses. I’ve started carrying two of them when I’m with my granddaughters.
I carry one all the time. They’re surprisingly useful and a very decent thing to be able to lend somebody when they’re in need. At £3 for ten, nobody has an excuse not to have one on them.
Two hankies — one, for nose, sweat, etc, front right pocket. Second, for giving out — or when hanky #1 is really gross, back left pocket. I normally leave the second, so every pair of pants in my closet has one.
Couldn’t agree more. Carrying tissues in your purse is not really the same as having my husband able to whip out a clean handkerchief instantly when needed – for a runny nose, if a child gets a cut, if there’s a sudden spill, whatever.
I started carrying a hankie about 2 years ago. Started with simple white then branched out to a plaid colored one- which in the end has a better appearance after use. A fresh one each day is a must and a spare for various other uses in the backpack/briefcase is a necessity. I never knew I’d love carrying one so much- and I used to be one of the “eww-ick” crowd. A few items regarding them:
1) they don’t irritate the nose as much as Kleenex (ever pulled out a kleenex on a sunny day at home -a cloud of paper dust always follows – job security for Kleenex?) 2) My grandfather always had a couple in his pocket. – one had a corner knotted to his keys which he would wrap up in the hankie- likely to save his pockets. There is also a picture of him wearing one as a makeshift hat to keep the sun or sweat off his head – four corners tied with a small not. 3) Decomissioned hankies are great for filling your fountain pen with. Don’t wipe the nib after filling- dab with the old hankie to remove excess ink.
@Daddy-O:
“…But nothing tops seeing some guy pull out a hanky, blow their nose into it with all the breathe that God gave them, wipe at their nose like a busboy wiping down a table, and shove that mucus infused fabric back into their pocket to await the next offering.”
If you blow your nose on a tissue, and there’s no wastebasket around, do you put the tissue in your pocket?
And do you have the same aversion to underwear?
I don’t remember when I started carrying a handkerchief, but I’ve done it for years. When people ask why, I tell them I carry it so I can dry a woman’s tears. Good idea about carrying two of them! I may start doing that.
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Sweet post… I’ve been carrying a handkerchief since I was a kid (along with a pocket knife) and they’re always useful. I now have a job that includes a fair amount of physical labour and it’s great to have something to wipe your brow that won’t disintegrate and stick to your face. I tend to go with the standard black or dark blue cotton ones.
Of course you’re right, plenty of folks out there who’d be terrified to be carrying around a rag of their own sweat.. my brother’s a germophobe bordering on Howard Hughes proportions.
On the other hand I still use kleenex for blowing my nose.. with my allergies the thing could be soaked in 10 minutes.
I’m only 20 years old, but I’ve been carrying a hankie for several years because it’s convenient and my dad has always carried one. I always find it amusing when people my age see me pull it out for the first time and think it’s odd or “old school.”
When I was living in Japan I also got use to carrying a handkerchif and a towel the japanese use called a tenugui, it is the same on kendo players wear under their helmets and sushi chefs wear rolled around their heads. The handkercif was never absorbent enough for sweat so that was to lend, and the tenugui allowed style and decoration. Do a goggle seach for tenugui to see some of the thousands of designs.
My Grandfather and Father always had a handkerchief on them to blow their noses, I never really took to that but over the last three years have been carrying one everyday to wipe my brow. I have carried a pocket knife for years and have a Leatherman as well. My wife likes my Gerber mirco LST some much that I need to go buy myself another one.
Basically, carry a hanky, clean it on a normal basis.
If you’re not into a handkerchief, then yes, I’d say carry a tissue. Even being a guy, I carry one or two tissues, folded nicely. If my nose gets runny or there’s a lady who’s crying or just happens to have a funny nose, I hand it to her and tell her, “I always bring one just in case.”
But it always happens that if I forget to carry a tissue or handkerchief, my nose happens to get runny.
You can buy a set of 7-10 of them at stores like k-mart and walmart for a few bucks. They usually come with a monogram, and like mine, I bought a set of 5 with different colored embroidery for about five bucks. They’re put away right now, but I’ll crack them back out sometime soon.
I’ve been carrying one since about Thanksgiving. My grandma gave me one then, and I have since bought a pack from Wal-Mart, and try to always have one on me.
Concerning Handkerchiefs and pocket squares.
“ones to show and ones to blow”
I sweat very easily. When I met my wife, I used to carry around napkins for wiping sweat- which saved her when she had to use a paperless port-a-potty at an outdoor music fest. In fact that little act of chivalry is what won her over when a multitude of guys were trying to get her attention that day.
Once I started playing in a soul band, I quickly tired of using paper napkins (or my arm… gross) to mop my sweat onstage. I got a nice set of western handkerchiefs and feel much more civilized using them. I need to get an extra set and start carrying them daily- thanks for the reminder!
I always carry a bandanna, and have for quite a few years now. Just as good as a handkerchief, and because it’s larger, even more versatile.
Strange, I just bought some handkerchiefs this last week as the allergy season begins. I hadn’t thought much of the social implications so much as the reusable nature of the handkerchief. It’s a very pragmatic solution for those of us with evil seasonal allergies. I’m considering some form of sleeve for it, like my microfiber that I keep around for my glasses, simply because when I’m out all day my single kerchief gets rather snotty. So something along the lines of a very slim, plastic lined bill fold or whatnot seems appropriate. Any suggestions?
I'm glad to see so many hankie fans!
I wore one because of the cold temps here in spokane Wa. last winter. Now I just carry one just in case maybe to use it maybe not. But They are do for a come back.
Surely a hankie is the ultimate recession-busting tissue!
In The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, one of the title characters carries two handkerchiefs: one for himself, and an extra one in case a woman needs one.
I am a big fan of hankies! People who use them look so classy! As long as you don’t use one for multiple purposes on a given day, they can be really handy. If I have allergies, I try to carry more than one around, and yes, I do like hankies that go beyond just plain white in color. Hankies are softer (and usually bigger) than tissues, so i go ahead and enjoy a good loud honk whenever I need to.
I have been using handkerchiefs for years now. My dad has always used them, and when l was growing up refused to use them. But as l was growing older (35 now), l saw the sense in using them and never leave the house without a clean handkerchief in my front pocket and sometimes a spare one in my back pocket.
I’ve been convinced to give it a shot – I’ve been carrying tissues around my pocket for a couple of decades now anyway thanks mostly to allergies – don’t need ‘em that often (just often enough to always need something around “just in case” ) so I end up with wadded up falling apart tissue after a few days – and if you think people think a hanky might be used if you offer one, you should see the reaction of offering someone a wadded up piece of tissue from your pocket. Ya – I’m thinking the hanky might be a nicer alternative. Just found some today at $2 for a 4-pack at the local dollar store.
I carry a few sheets of paper towels. But I suppose a hanky would come in handy, where do I go to get one?
I used a handkerchief for one week when I had to live in a tent in the middle of an Alabama summer.
Personally that’s what I’d use them for: wiping up sweat/tears, and I’d stick with using disposable tissues for blowing my nose.
A summation of why the kerchief and not the tissue.
Hankerchief all around more useful:
For the obivous purpose, unless in the throes of a major cold, a clean one makes it through the day without getting too funky. Tissue is single use, has to be thrown away. If no receptacle is apparent, the only thing that will disintegrate faster in your pocket than a new tissue is a used one.
First aid, multi purpose: bandage, sling, tourniquet tie, etc.
Field expedient head cover either from the sun in the event of an unsheduled desert jaunt or for an unprepared lady on a Sistine Chapel tour.
Hobo satchel with or without stick.
Absorbing ill-timed spills when nothing else is available.
Field expedient hot pad, think radiator caps.
Field expedient mask, think air quality or train robbery.
And last, but not least coming to to the aid of any lady in either psychological or physiological distress.
A clean, white handkerchief has been part of my everyday dress since I started school way back in the year of our Lord, 1951. Some people consider it unsanitary or old fashioned, but I’m not trying to please “some people.” Carrying a handkerchief is a manly, nay gentlemanly practice that apparently has gone the way of good manners and being polite to strangers.
So when did anyone last disinfect a paper tissue?
http://organically.blogspot.com/2009/06/when-did-you-last-disinfect-your-tissue.html
Hankies for my boys every time.
I was at a bar last week with some friends when some drunk idiot stumbles to our table and knocks over a beer bottle to the floor, breaking it and spilling beer all over a female friend’s legs and shoes. Someone asked for a napkin, but there were none available.
Had I listened to this article before, this could have been my moment to offer her a handkerchief to clean herself up. Instead someone had to search for a napkin while beer dripped down her legs. I went to Nordstrom the next day to buy a 7-pack of cotton handkerchiefs.
I’ve carried a handkerchief for years and EVERYONE thinks I’m pimp when I pull it out. It’s also very useful for helping out the ladies, if you can jump in a dry their eyes, you are there’s!
Two more reasons for carrying a hankerchief:
a) Have a baby? Great for wiping him/her up, anything about to go into their mouth, or applying pressure when they knock their noggin’.
b) Ever called upon to give CPR? More then half of those recieving it spit up or puke in the process. While not stopping every germ, it’s definately better if it stays out of your mouth.
Another great reason to use a hankie over tissues: Have you ever left a tissue in your pocket while you wash them?
Similar to what Nathan said above, there is one important rule about handkerchiefs:
carry 2 of them. one for show (or to hand to a lady in need of one), and one for blow.
When giving a handkerchief to a lady, always refuse her offer to return it to you, even if she says she will launder it.
At the age of 21, I have been carrying plain white handkerchiefs in my back pocket for years, now. You never know when it can come in handy, often for reasons you wouldn’t have thought of beforehand.
Handkerchiefs are the way to go. Very versitile and handy beyond comparison.
As a lady who wandered onto your site through your Benjamin Franklin posting, I just wanted to say my father always had a hanky available. As a young girl, my mother would launder them, and I would iron them and neatly fold them for him. It made me feel especially grown up and close to my Daddy. Glad to hear there are gentlemen still carrying them. Love your site!
It seems everyone who has complained about the germs related to a handkerchief has neglected the question of what to do if not carrying a handkerchief and there are no Kleenex around. Wipe your runny nose with the back of your hand? There’s no buffer at all. I think I’ll stick with a handkerchief.
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