The only thing you'll want near your poorly beak
It’s that time of year again.
Actually, in my house, it’s been ‘that’ time of year since the kids broke up for their Christmas holidays!
There have been more coughs and colds going around the village than you could shake a snotty stick at and I’ve been rather dismayed to see one too many empty plastic wrappers for pocket-sized tissues wafting around the streets.
I’m guessing you’ll soon realise, I’m not a lover of these disposible options.
I’m also not entirely convinced that disposable tissues are all they are cracked up to be on the health front either. Let’s face it, kids hold onto them until they are germ infested green blocks of horror before they poke them in the darkest recesses of their pockets…only for you to miss on washing day as you sling them in the machine (usually in a panic on a Sunday night) where they disintegrate beautifully, coating the rest of your dark load with shreds of fleckie white, which only come off with a stiff clothes brush.
Let’s be honest, we grown ups aren’t much better are we…
OK, so if we dump the soggy tissue, what options are we left with?
Well, it’s long been a mother’s duty to buy those monogrammed hankies, which can be relied upon for the stiff, blue, Gothic-font letter to snag the side of your schnozz.
You’ll be delighted to know, I’ve found a solution and one that won’t take the skin off your beak either.
The organic cotton hankies from Organic-ally are heaven sent. You’ve never felt anything softer against your tender bits, I guarantee it and they do a brilliant job at tending to your drippy extremities and the makers describe them as ‘earth friendly alternatives’.
There’s quite a selection on the website, but I think the best value are the funky boxed set of eight 10” x 10” hankies. They really are super soft, a nice natural colour and made from organic cotton flannel.
You can permanently store them in the uniquely designed re-usable pop-up box which makes life simple and them easy to find. The hankies pull out like regular tissues. Just wash after use, fold them back into the box and they’re ready for action.
The boxed set costs £16.99, or £2.12 per hankie, which works out cheaper than buying them separately. See www.Organic-ally.co.uk for further details. If you’re buying them as a gift, take a look at the range of organic cotton bags available to wrap them too, they are gorgeous and reusable.
Now even the humble and horrid cold can be dealt with sustainably!
Whatever next?
Rubbishly yours,
TS x
Perception is a funny thing. I think nothing of washable san pro or washable nappies, even a washable cloth for moping my proverbials up after a wee, but just can’t bring myself to hang up my tissue box yet.
So weird; I was bought up with ‘real hankies’ and I don’t know when it all changed.
Everything you have written makes total sense and tugs at my ecological conscience strings no end, but I’m not ready to brave into the territory of washable snot rags just yet.
All power to you though lovie and I hope the green gremlins clear up soon.
Mrs G x
LOLOLOL….I love your honesty and reply missus!!!
Isn’t it funny though – it’s the things we have drilled into us that are the hardest to shift…..I’ll have to send you one so you can try and wean off the paper versions old bean! You’ll just love how soft they are, truly, you could roll yourself up and die happily in a body sized wrap…
Glad to see I’m not the only one that uses washables for a tiddle too…
…..and I don’t flush either…..
!
TS x x
hi Tracey, quick link for you: http://gristmill.grist.org/skeptics has detailed advice on how to win over sceptics of every variety. hope your cold clears up soon x
Hi Emma! I know the Grist well – a chewy read at the best of times, but packed with great green info.
See you soon my friend – I hear your show’s going down very well!
Love TS x
Oh my word ladies – you do talk sense and make me laugh at the same time….and that’s all I’ll say on the matter LOL
x
Blimey – if only they did that in No 10, we’d ALL be laughing!!!
Rubbishly yours in hopeful anticipation of a miracle,
TS x
A great idea, I’ve been thinking about this for a while, I really must get some hankies! I’m mooching round the charity shops for an unwanted packet.
The tiddle wiping has made me chuckle, I’d never thought of that!
Love to all
Deb x
Hi Debbie,
Good to see you again dear chum – love to Em and J.
I know on face value, this box might look a little expensive, but to be honest, you’ll never need to buy another hankie again! And the cost of packets of tissues soon mount up.
Your nose will thank you for it…
TS x
PS: We absolutely ran out of loo roll the other day….and I had nothing else to hand…..except a copy of The Times (an old copy I might add, pinched from a friend and used to start our fires in the stove)…it did a fine job, but I won’t be making it a regular happening, for my regular happenings….
Just to really scare you – I’ve heard from a local doctor that it’s healthier to sniff than it is to blow!! Your body gets to work on all the baddies and build up your immune system and the potential to share your germs around is reduced
I have lots of organic fabric scraps around so I’m pondering making my own funky hankies.
i’ve just about ‘trained’ my 4 year old to use his old baby washcloths/flannels (the super soft thin kind) as hankies — recycled uses. i put them in his pyjama drawer and he grabs one as needed. now to train him not to wipe and put back in!
i’ve drummed it into him so much by now… if i give him a tissue instead, he tells me he can’t use it because he doesn’t want a tree to get cut down.
bless…
We are a family of hankie lovers – and the youngest a 13 year old boy- so much softer and nicer to the nose. Also last for years. My Grandma has just died (at the age of 96) and we now have her hankies to add to our collection – well washed and ironed. Nothing nicer than ironing a set of hankies!! I’d rather leave the rest of the ironing though. So that’s also some really good recycling.
Hi Poppy – lolol – one of my lot had a cold last week and I gave him that advice….trouble was, it so got on my twink after a while, I just had to run and get the hankies for him…..
Boys eh…he was quite happy with a sniff and any available sleeve…
Rubbishly yours,
TS
x
Hi Shaune – a brilliant idea. I’ve often thought about going to the charity shops and buying a nice soft flanellete cotton bottom sheet for a bed and cutting it up to do the same….if I could find an organic one, I’d reckon I hit the jackpot!
That said, yesterday I was mooching around and found a divine cotton throw, absolutely gorgeous it is with a really lovely print on it too. I’m going to cut it up to make a few bags….and later today, I’ll be posting all about it….in the meantime, if you’re keen to get a sneak preview, go see http://www.Morsbags.com…..
Rubbishly yours,
TS x
Hi there new reader – love your comment and well done for ‘reprogramming’ him! LOLOL….
It’s wonderful when they really make that connection between trees and paper in so many ways.
You’ve done a great job of setting him on the right track for life.
Rubbishly yours,
TS x
Hi there JB,
Firstly, so sorry to hear of your loss my friend, but I really understand what you’ve done there with the hankies. When my mum passed away, I didn’t really want any posessions (bless her, she didn’t have much anyway – lolol), but I did take a couple of practical household things that I’d use regularly. A clothes horse being one, don’t laugh…..It still had lots of life in it and when I used it, I thought of her. The rest of the house went on Freecycle, almost every stick of furniture, light fittings and all.
Recycling is important for ‘life’.
You’re in my thoughts,
TS x
Hello !
I’m new on this forum so I introduce me…
My name is Jason I’m 25 years old, I’m Belgian.
I like: horses and baseball…
Nice to meet you