The "Gross Factor" Argument, Examined
The most common objection to reusable tissues is hygiene — specifically, the idea that putting a used cloth back in your pocket is inherently disgusting or dangerous. This argument was deployed effectively by Kleenex's marketing campaigns in the mid-20th century and persists today, despite limited scientific support. Here is what the evidence actually suggests.
The Science of Handkerchief Hygiene
Academic research on handkerchief hygiene is surprisingly sparse — it is not a topic that attracts significant research funding. The available studies are mixed but broadly reassuring.
A 2009 study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases found that cold viruses survive on hard surfaces for up to 24 hours but for much shorter periods on porous fabric. The study suggested that the porous structure of cotton cloth traps viral particles rather than leaving them available for transfer.
A 2010 review in Pediatrics in Review noted that "no clear evidence exists that handkerchiefs are more dangerous than tissues" for cold transmission, with hand hygiene identified as the primary protective factor regardless of tissue type.
The mechanism by which colds spread is primarily via droplet transmission (breathing near an infected person) and contact transmission (touching contaminated surfaces then touching your face). Using a used tissue or handkerchief after the initial use is a secondary risk, manageable with normal hand hygiene.
How LastTissue Addresses the Hygiene Question
The traditional cloth handkerchief hygiene problem — used cloth accumulating bacteria in a trouser pocket, mixed with clean cloths in a jacket — is genuinely addressed by the LastTissue case design.
- Separate compartments: Clean cloths and used cloths never share space. You retrieve a clean cloth from one end; used cloths go into the sealed compartment at the other end.
- Sealed used compartment: Used cloths are enclosed, not exposed in a pocket with other items.
- Non-porous case material: Silicone does not harbour bacteria the way fabric pouches can.
- Weekly wash cadence: The six-cloth capacity covers a typical week of use, matched to normal laundry frequency.
Washing Guidelines
Normal use (healthy): Machine wash at 40°C with regular laundry, weekly. Standard detergent is sufficient.
During illness (cold, flu): Machine wash at 60°C every 1–2 days, or use 40°C with a laundry sanitiser like Dettol Laundry Sanitiser or similar. This inactivates viral particles that survive at lower temperatures.
Case cleaning: Wipe with warm soapy water or place in the dishwasher. Do not leave the case damp — dry thoroughly before refilling with clean cloths.
The Honest Comparison
Disposable tissues are immediately discarded after single use — a genuine hygiene advantage for those who want no recontamination risk whatsoever. If that is important to you, disposables are the right choice. But for the vast majority of everyday tissue use — minor noseblowing, dabbing eyes, light cleaning — reusable tissues with a well-designed storage system are hygienically adequate and meaningfully better for the environment.
The "gross factor" is largely psychological, reinforced by decades of marketing rather than evidence. Many cultures have used cloth handkerchiefs safely for centuries. With a separation case and regular washing, the hygienic case for cloth is solid.
For more on reusable tissue options, see the complete guide to reusable tissues.