Anyone got any ideas for washing handkerchiefs

Having just had an extreme 'tissue in the washer' incident so my vote is definitely ditch the tissues and use hankies.

Momac55

Jesus life is too short to wash snotty hankies just get some bloody tissues

absolute this LOL

Jesus life is too short to wash snotty hankies just get some bloody tissues

Soak overnight (at least) in salt water. DH’s handkerchiefs were changed daily and very clean.
Alternatively, get very brightly coloured ones!

Well, thanks to everyone for their opinions. On balance, I think I'm going to give up on the idea of hankies - especially as I haven't any at all, and carry on using the tissues!

midgey

I just lob them in my machine!

Exactly.

Of course I meant biodegradable not recyclable!

I’d always thought/hoped that they were recyclable. I just don’t like the idea of wrapping up any bodily substance and putting it back in my bag or pocket.

MT62

Sarnia

Back in the 1950's when I helped my Granny with the washing she had an old saucepan which was kept just for boiling handkerchiefs. She added a chunk of Sunlight soap to the water and let it simmer for an hour or two before rinsing.
I'm sure times have changed since those days, Notagranny44 but you have brought back a fond memory of post-war wash days.

Ooh bet it was like porridge 😂

Yes, it was a bit on the gloopy side.

Hot wash on your washing machine and then hang outside to dry ? That’s what I do. The sun is good for killing bacteria.

Tissues may be disposable and not good for the environment. But surely better for hygiene and health.

Remember snotty hankies when l was a child. Yukk.

Disgusting things of the past should have been binned years ago. We have a friend who still gets his handkerchief out blows his nose puts it in his pocket. No wonder his wife got rid of him totally yuk.

midgey

I just lob them in my machine!

Me too. They go in with the towels on a hot wash. A spoonful of Napisan works well if they are grubby (DH uses them for everything)

Oreo

It’s the heat that kills bacteria not the brand of washing powder.

Napisan or similar which I used in the 70s does kill germs. I’d soak the nappies in cold water before washing them in an ordinary wash with ordinary washing powder No need for a hot wash or boil.

I had to go away for a few days, and on my return, he happily told me that he had done the hankies, but couldn’t find the saucepan, so had done them in a casserole dish in the oven.

kassi I think this is the funniest thing I've ever read on Gransnet, I've just laughed out loud 🤣

At school I remember soending a double period of domestic science wash ping and ironing a single handkerchief. What a ridiculous waste of everybody’s time.

Like Redcar I put them in with the normal wash load.

I cannot think of anything more disgusting than a handkerchief, use a` clean tissue or toilet paper and flush it out. You save opn all the powder and electricity I know what I prefer.,

My OH uses hankies. He puts them in a lidded bucket and then I chuck them all in the washing machine on a hot wash. He’s supposed to put disinfectant in the bucket but he rarely does 🙄 I do find ironing them quite satisfying.

I just put them in the washing machine and wash them at 40 with the rest of the washing. I remember being “taught” how to boil hankies in Domestic science at school! We also had a special saucepan at home for boiling hankies!

midgey

I just lob them in my machine!

Same here.

Missiseff

My husband uses them every day, I've just been chucking them in the washing machine with the usual washing for the past 20 years

Best way to deal with them. I did it for over 40 years till DH retired. He’s handkerchiefs were always beautifully white. 🤧.

I always use proper hankies - a clean, ironed one in left pocket (for emergencies in case a sterile one is needed) and another in right pocket (I'm right handed) that is in use. They go in my 40degree wash - all my washing is on 40 degrees. They come out clean and I iron them.

🤢😁

The thought of washing snxxty hankies makes me feel yukky oh use it and throw it down the loo