A handkerchief is romantic because it embraces etiquette associated with Victorian England. A romantic time when a girl might take her kerchief off her throat and wave delicately at an incoming guest. Where she might lightly toss a signal with it at departing friends or waved it from a departing boat at on watchers. Or where she may have worn it purely for fashion and good taste- tucked daintily into the sleeve of her dress or gown.
A parlor handkerchief was an ornament, not a utility item. A delicate little thing full of small embroideries of white linen and sometimes laced around its edges. Something desired by any lady. A lady who always had a ready stash tucked away neatly in a little drawer.
As such, the treatment of the little lacy square was important. Handling the kerchief well was a triumph of culture and good breeding and a most treasured piece of bric-a-brac a lady owned.
Things You’ll Need
- Bowl
- Mild soap
- Borax
- Violet essential oil
- Milk
- Flannel
- Iron and board
- Towel
Caring And Cleaning
Step 1
Soak the handkerchiefs in a bowl filled with cold water and mild soap suds for 30 minutes. Rinse the handkerchiefs in cold water.
Step 2
Place the handkerchiefs in a basin (or bowl) of hot water.
Step 3
Dissolve a spoonful of borax in hot water and add to the basin (or bowl).
Step 4
Lightly pat and rub the handkerchiefs gently until they are clean.
Step 5
Rinse the newly cleaned handkerchiefs in cool water until all traces of borax and soap are gone.
The whitening process
Step 1
Add 2 drops of violet essential oil to 1-1/2 cups of milk. Milk is a natural starch. Violet is a natural bluing agent. If you’re unable to locate violet essential oil you can substitute it with laundry bluing. In that case use only 1/2 drop of bluing.
Step 2
Place the handkerchiefs into the bowl of violet milk.
Step 3
Soak the handkerchiefs for 5 minutes.
Step 4
Dry each handkerchief partially by patting it between the folds of a thick white towel.
Step 5
Place a piece of heavy flannel over an ironing board. Iron the damp handkerchief dry on a a very low setting.
Step 6
Fold the handkerchief and store.
Resources
How to Embroider a Handkerchief-this post includes a beautiful embroidery design for two handkerchiefs from 1914.