There are a lot of people who think that using cloth tissues would be really gross. I get it. Older people remember their parents using a hankie.. the same hankie, over and over again. Well, I want to say that this is NOT the same thing. I honestly don’t think its sanitary to reuse cloth tissues for the same reason you wouldn’t reuse paper ones. You retouch your snot and get it all over your hands. Well, as a mom, I won’t say I NEVER do that, but it’s usually like a total snot emergency when that happens.
So if you have ever used cloth diapers, you usually have cloth bum wipes. Well, when my kids were out of diapers, the clothes still came in handy this way. … as snot rags or tissues shall we say.
Now if you are new to this, I already know what you are thinking, “this is unsanitary!” Well, it’s not more unsanitary than using cloth diapers, or wearing under ware and washing it in the washer or eating off of utensils at a restaurant, or swimming in a public pool. And honestly, snot is rather innocuous. It dissolves very well in the washing machine and voila, a clean tissue.
So here is are the deets. I recommend buying flannel by the yard. It turns out very cheep this way. I have also bought old sheets at the second hand store, but since using new white flannel.. I can’t use anything else. Cut it into squares. Mine are 6″x6″. Then I use my sewing machine to zigzag around the outside of each one. I have tried using my serger, but as it leaves many cut strands at each corner, they eventually fray out a lot. I found that zigzagging only leaves a few strands in one place.
Flannel is so very soft on a sensitive nose when you are sick. I keep them in a little box on my counter. We blow are noses on them and put them in the washing machine. EASY PEASEY. They get washed with whatever else gets put in there, and yes, it’s fine. Just like your under ware is fine to wash and wear again.
By using cloth nose wipes, I have saved SO MANY tissue boxes worth of tissues. That equates to more trees in the environment, taking in more CO2 and drawing it down into the soil where it is supposed to be. And you won’t be doing extra loads of laundry for your tissues, they just sneak in with your other clothes.
Let me know what works for you and your family. Remember- gentle yet relentless steps towards sustainability. If you’re not ready for this one, work on something else. Many more ideas for you to come.
