Eco-Friendly Tissue Tips for Stuffy Noses

7 by Becky Striepe on January 25, 2010

Sneeze. CC photo by Flickr user foshydog

We're right in the thick of cold and flu season, and if you're anything like me, this chilly weather is not doing your nose any favors. Rather than relying on paper from virgin forests to clear your sinuses, let's talk about some better tissue options!

The NRDC has added a facial tissue guide to their Shopper's Guide to Home Tissue Products. According to their site, "If every household in the United States replaced just one box of virgin fiber facial tissues (175 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 163,000 trees." The top brand on their list is Whole Foods' 365. To see who else made the cut, check out the whole guide here!

Organic Cotton Hankie via spicytuna.etsy.com 100% recycled disposable tissues are definitely way better than conventional paper tissue products, but if you want to take things a step further, you might consider using a good, old-fashioned hankie.

There are all manner of hankie options out there. I'm really digging this organic cotton whale hankie from Etsy seller Spicy Tuna (pictured right). This set of four hemp napkins from Intertwined Designs would make great handkerchiefs, too!

If you just can't let go of that tissue box, Hankettes has you covered. They make organic cotton hankies that live in a traditional tissue box!

Of course the crafter in me always prefers to make rather than buy. Not only is it cheaper, but you can use any fabric you want! Making a hankie is really no different than making a cloth napkin, and Kristy Medina has a great video tutorial on how to make your own two-ply, embellished napkins. Her son "helps" throughout the video, and it's pretty darn cute!

Her napkins are 10" x 5", but you can really make them any size you like.

Are there any hankie users out there? It's tough to make the leap from disposables, and we'd love to hear your success stories!

Image Credits:
Sneeze. Creative Commons photo by foshydog
Thar She Blows Hankie via Spicy Tuna

heather

I use hankies all the time… I inherited my grammy’s collection and they are just so handy and the happy floral prints and cute little embroidered bits make them much more fun to use than a kleenex any day! I have noticed people smiling at the sight when I pull out the super floral ones on the train.

Love that little face peeking out over her right elbow, btw.

http://glueandglitter.com Becky

Thanks, Heather! It’s great to hear positive hankie experiences.

http://www.inquisitiverobin.com Robin

I use hankies too, when I need to. I just grab clean ones from my father’s dresser. There isn’t anything special about them – they’re just white, old man hankies. But they do the trick!

I’ve also cut up old t-shirts that I sleep in to use as hankies. I was visiting my sister in England, and advised her to do the same thing. I used a white shirt, and she chose to use a bright green one! They both work wonders, and are very soft. That’s the most important thing – use soft cloth!

http://glueandglitter.com Becky

T-shirt fabric is a great idea! That knit stuff doesn’t need to be hemmed at all, if you don’t mind a little curling at the edges. So smart!

http://www.bigtimeteez.com Dan Meyer

Usually I do not make comments on blogs, but I have to mention that this post really forced me to do so. Really proficient post
http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Health-Benefits-of-Turmeric Hilly

I always use cloth hankies anyway, the paper ones make your nose sore very quickly if you’ve got a cold.
http://www.stage-4-cancer.com stage 4 cancer

Tissue is good for nose. I like use it.