Art of Manliness - Latest Comments in Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Lm — Sun, 11 May 2014 17:56:12 -0000

Who has recommendations for soft and durable handkerchiefs? I have allergies and even with modern medicine, go through an astonishing amount of paper tissues. I am looking for ones to use at home (don't need to be pretty), as I can find pretty little things on etsy to get me through when I'm at work or school. Thank you.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Buzz Climis — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 00:34:29 -0000

My fifth-grade maths teacher told us we should always carry a handkerchief. He told the story of being a Little League umpire in front of whom a batter's swing knocked two teeth out of the catcher's mouth. He stuffed his handkerchief into the catcher's bleeding mouth, and stanched the blood flow.
Later, when I was in college and working in the dining hall kitchen, during a briefing for a meal we were serving, the "boss" asked if anyone had a "towel or rag". I offered my handkerchief, and he scolded me, saying, "You blow your nose on that thing!" I assured him that it was clean and I'd not used it that day, and he snapped, "If you think that's funny, you can go home right now!" Turns out he wished to wipe off a knife blade, but I didn't know that. He'd simply asked for a "towel or rag". To this day, I think his behaviour was both unkind and rude.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Luke Baily — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 20:22:16 -0000

Im 15 and I carry a good old handkerchief with me!

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

lemate45 — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 15:24:58 -0000

My Mother taught us boys to always carry a Handkerchief .just in case a girl might needed it.. I always had just a subtle amount ( light smell) of Old Spice on it. I can't remember not having or carrying a hankie. I still carry a Hankie and sometimes even an extra 2 hankies if i wear my cowboy hat. One to hold and take off the hat and one to wipe the sweatband. Reason One to keep oil from my hands from soiling my hat. one to wipe my sweat band. My Hat looks just like new,and i have had it for 45 years. When i don't wear ,i store it in the hat box it came in. A tip of the hat to the ladies.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Patty — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 00:01:29 -0000

I was on line looking to buy hankies for my dad, I found this site and stopped and read all the comments. They put a smile on my face picturing my dad with his red paisley print hankies. He worked out side and always had one in his pocket. Its nice to see the hankie still has a place in so many lives, because of the influence of their dads and granddads. As a girl I do have a few special handkerchiefs from my grandmothers that I carry with me on special occasions. I don't always use them but, they bring nice memories when I see them in the dresser drawer.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Miss — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 21:53:38 -0000

My first experience with a Gentleman and his handkerchief was 20 years ago. I was a young mother with 6 month old twins. I strolled my babies through the mall, attracting much attention from women. Young women, as well as older women, ohh'ed and ahh'ed over the identical twin babies........until one began projectile vomiting. All the women scattered. On my knees, I tried to shush one crying baby while attempting to comfort and clean the other. One lone older gentleman came to my rescue, leaving me with a handkerchief as a reminder of his kindness.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Bill Ussery — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 15:24:49 -0000

I have always carried a handkerchief and could not understand how any man got along without one. I thought it was common practice untile I tried to buy them and was told they only stock them at Christmas time.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Frank — Sat, 03 Aug 2013 03:35:06 -0000

As always, excellent, manly advice. Much appreciated. I started carrying hankies years ago-monogrammed. Through the years I've "lost" over 2 dozen. I always have taken it as a small honor when a lady has noticed the monogram and informed me how much they appreciate it-and they wish to keep the "souvenir". Of course your right, a gentleman would never ask for its return. Years later I've run into past recipients who remind of their prize.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

moses — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 05:21:42 -0000

Hey, i carry handkerchiefs.
I'm 30.. I am the only guy in office who uses handkerchiefs. Nothing compare to the feel of wiping my face after a walk in the sun with soft cloth.. tissues just don't work haha

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Dennise — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 12:59:28 -0000

I know it was an old post but someone asked about handkerchiefs made in the USA. Some Hav-A-Hank® handkerchiefs are. Check the label.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Zeke — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 22:17:26 -0000

Here's a question: can anyone tell me why British soldiers used to carry handkerchiefs in their sleeves? The Internet isn't providing any answers for me just yet.
Oh, and for the "things to always have on you" discussion, mine goes wallet, phone, knife, keys, zippo, bandana and depending on where I'm going, possibly also gun and/or pipe and tobacco pouch.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Mirawyn — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 11:10:03 -0000

I love my cloth handkerchiefs! I have some that are nice as well as some cheap cotton ones I bought in the men's department at a local discount department store. I keep a stained one on hand (usually coffee-stained); I take public transportation, and can't count the number of times I've used it to wipe something grungy off the seat, keeping my clothes clean. It's also far more effective at dealing with spills or drips!

So much easier on the nose, too, especially during allergy season. If you blow your nose in a corner, you can fold it over, leaving the mucus encased. You can blow your nose this way quite a few times without ever touching the gunk. It also keeps it off the inside of your pocket. (Admittedly, at the height of allergy season I may carry tissues, too.)

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Anisa — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 06:51:47 -0000

As a girl, I use a bandana as a handkerchief. I can wear it, but I also find it very useful to wipe my face while performing all day on the boardwalk or just during the summer in general. My only complaint is not necessarily about the bandana, but moreso that girl pockets are just too darn small to accommodate it - or anything for that matter... :)

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

J.P. — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:48:56 -0000

Okay, this might seem like a stupid question, but how does one store a handkerchief? I know in the pocket, but how is it folded, traditionally?

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Roberto_G — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:26:59 -0000

Always carried two handkerchiefs; one in the back pocket of my trousers and another one in my shirt pocket. I have also carried a pocket knife for as long as I can remember. There's a reason why certain types of pocket knives [ye olde switchblades] have been known as "Mexican Express Cards." We never leave home without 'em.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Will — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:04:13 -0000

After reading these posts, I like the idea of carrying a hanky, but I still have 2 reservations:
1) I don't want to become a slave to it (ie: turn it into another item/task I have to think about taking with me all the time, like cell phone)
2) I'm not sure if I would like re-using it after using it with nose-blowing. Even washing it afterwards doesn't help.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Michelle — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:40:02 -0000

I'm not a man, but I discovered how useful handkerchiefs were when I went to Japan, where they were used by virtually everyone and were an absolute necessity because of the summer heat. Since then, I try to make a habit of carrying them, particularly when it's hot. I should point out that Japanese people are obsessive about cleanliness, so that kind of helped me get over the worry about germs.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Mat — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:26:44 -0000

I have carried a bandana as a handkerchief for a few years and get teased about it at work because I use it often due to my allergies. But I always have it, change it out every day for a fresh one, and it holds up a lot better than a soggy tissue in my pocket

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Gail — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:43:24 -0000

As a woman, I always appreciate any gentlemanly act. My father used handkerchiefs, and I remember him using the thin, white ones with the textured stripes running across the length. He would fold them into squares, and have them at the ready in his pants pocket. Aside from the obvious tradition aspect, carries "hankies" is a classic example of men being prepared. A well-planned day of personal hygiene is always in fashion, and any lady will take note of a man who is capable of wiping his brow of sweat, his mouth of food, or his hands of filth. Nothing says, "I'm a gentleman," like the proffering of a useful item -- whether to a woman or a man. The gesture speaks of decency and civility, which are seemingly lost arts in the American culture now. It just makes sense in all aspects to carry an item which will render untold and uncalculated usefulness. Thank you, gentlemen, for being gentlemen.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Nicholas — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 22:29:26 -0000

Can someone please say (year or decade) when did the people stopped using hankies?

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Rollins — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:19:58 -0000

Yep! I carry 2 with me all time one for me and one for whatever,whomever or whenever. I think it's cool,on time, hot, in style it's "BAD".

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

Luis — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:52:37 -0000

As Dave before, my dad told me to carry two handkerchief, one for your personal use and the other one for all the "manly" things you can do with it. Good point, not very gallant to offer a dirty and used handkie to a woman...that is why you offer her the second one, lol. And in extreme cases both (even the dirty one) can accomplish important things together, such as an emergency bandage or such. And by the way, funny word, handkerchief, wonder where it came from.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

jaydub — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:05:49 -0000

The key to hankies is 1) having several, so you always have a clean one, and 2) proper folding, so it fits neatly in your pocket and opens easily for ready use. Besides my day-to-day use, I've used my hankies to aid my wife in Feminine Emergencies, lash my son's leg to his snowboard binding when he lost a strap at the top of the mountain, carried Precious Things from a trip afield, cleaned glasses, staunched bleeding, wiped sweat, dried tears, cooled foreheads, and I keep an extra to cover a rarely-used computer monitor. A Man carries a pocketknife and a handkerchief.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

MJ — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:09:17 -0000

Every time I pull out a hanky at work, some clown feels the need to make a snarky little comment about it. When I'm in the men's room, and the paper hand towels are all gone, I am having the last laugh.

Re: Every Man Should Carry a Handkerchief

George F Matheis Jr — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:42:59 -0000

Since the Bank Of America shootout in CA I have made a habit out of carrying a 100 % cotton bandana behind my wallet. The reasoning was so that I would have something to apply direct pressure with if I was shot, or to use with my pen as an improvised tourniquet. I was a policeman and the time and now I am retired and teach personal protection and preparedness. Bandanas are great for use as a dust mask as well of dozens of other uses. In the wood I use mine to gather my natural tinder so I can put it against my body to dry it out.