# Blowing Your Nose, **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 31, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959 "2011-12-31T16:43:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/21 "2011-12-31T21:05:28Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Standard tissue. A paper towel is overkill, especially from a waste-disposal standpoint (gotta figure that fewer trees died even for 3-4 tissues than for a paper towel). Yes, but disposed paper towel buried in a land fill locks sequestered carbon, while the space left by a felled tree is free to start a new tree to continue the carbon sequestration process. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/22 "2011-12-31T21:08:54Z")
> [@Fionn](#): > > If I’m at work or someone else’s house, I’ll use toilet paper. If I’m home, I’ll use wash cloths and then wash them in hot water. It saves paper and I find them much softer on my nose. Do use soap ? ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/23 "2012-01-01T00:18:50Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Do use soap ? Do you mean laundry detergent? Sure. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/24 "2012-01-01T00:27:17Z")
whatever I have available that isn’t like sandpaper. I’ve used paper towel as much as I have butt tape. in the clearing stages of a cold I tend to reach for a piece of paper towel since the amount of mucus I expel is, um, substantial. ---
**Author:** ![missinformation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@missinformation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missinformation)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/25 "2012-01-01T01:13:53Z")
Toilet paper, since it is usually closest at hand (there is something in my bathroom that causes me to sneeze.) Otherwise, Puffs Plus, with lotion please. Need something to soothe my poor schnoz, especially since, when I blow, I sound like a flock of Canadian geese migrating. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/26 "2012-01-01T01:50:39Z")
If indoors I look for toilet paper if nothing else is around. If I’m outside and no one is around I just press and close down the other uncongested nostril with a finger, and then blow. The Farmer Flush. ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/27 "2012-01-01T04:31:07Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > If I’m outside and no one is around I just press and close down the other uncongested nostril with a finger, and then blow. It’s nice to know I’m not the only disgusting person around. Used to try to use kleenex even at work, but working outside in the cold my nose runs all the time even when I don’t have the flu, and especially with gloves it gets really old digging for paper from the pocket, blowing nose into it, stuffing it back … rinse and repeat. Just pressing one or both nostrils down a bit with fingers and blowing vigorously these days, though I try to do it when nobody’s looking. Indoors and in company I use whatever appropriate soft paper tissues happen to be handy. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/28 "2012-01-01T04:36:32Z")
Handkerchiefs usually. I have a dozen or so of them. They’re soft and wash up nicely. Depending on size, I can get 2-4 good blows or a whole day of sniffles out of one with careful folding. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/29 "2012-01-01T06:21:48Z")
> [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](#): > > It’s nice to know I’m not the only disgusting person around. Until the last few years, I have only seen very old Chinese men do this. This accounts for 99% of the racist thoughts I had between 1980 and 1998. (Which is the year I have deluded myself into believing that I completely freed myself from racist thought.) ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/30 "2012-01-01T06:57:07Z")
I have recently discovered the holy grail of tissues. I used to be like you, OP, just dismissively using toilet paper or papertowels-- “Who cares!” I thought, “I’m just blowing my freaking nose on it!” And then it happened. My life changed. I was on the road and came down with an awful cold. Stopping, I grabbed the first tissues I saw and that is how I stumbled upon the wonder that is [Kleenex Cool Touch Tissue.](http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=373916&catid=184677&aid=338077&aparam=kleenex_cool_touch_facia&CAID=f9c6f660-de66-4eb0-af85-c1ff9229bff8) I’m not sure what exactly is in them that makes them so wonderful, but I’m going to take an educated guess and say unicorn rainbows and happiness. I liken the nose blowing experience to that of nuzzling Baby Jesus’ beard. Really though, I will never buy another kind of tissue. I am a lifetime convert. I had a very serious cold for almost two weeks and came out of it with a perfectly normal nose, no doubt thanks to these tissues. I dare say it was a pleasure to blow my nose on them. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/31 "2012-01-01T09:39:29Z")
I find that tissues are too thin, and Charmin toilet paper (the only kind my roommate likes) leaves little bits of, like, paper dust in my nose. I generally use TP (since I usually have to blow my nose right after a shower), but I don’t really like it. ---
**Author:** ![highrollinwooded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/71c47a/32.png) [@highrollinwooded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/highrollinwooded)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/32 "2012-01-01T12:43:04Z")
Kleenex. I have a box in the computer room,bedroom, bathroom,vehicles,small pack in my purse and spares in every jacket I own! And a box with me at work! Papertowel or tp will do in a bind. I have year round allergies and have gone thru 6 in the half hour I have been awake!!! Sucks!! ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/33 "2012-01-02T00:44:37Z")
Toilet paper, even though I usually shotgun right through it leaving little speckles of wet tissue and snot in an expanding blast pattern down the front of my shirt. Kleenex does the same thing. Someone needs to market ballistic lined tissues or something. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/34 "2012-01-02T03:29:30Z")
I buy Kleenex or Puffs brand tissues and keep a box in every room in my house. Ok not the kitchen but the box in the living room is just a step away from the kitchen. Usually after I eat my nose runs, so I have to decide whether to use the paper napkin from my meal or grab a tissue. I usually grab a tissue. I’ve always been intrigued by tissues like **Diosa** describes, but I love using tissues for cleaning my glasses off and anything other than plain tissue will just end up making my glasses worse. So I always have to get the non-additive type. Never cheapo non-name-brand shit, tho. Pssh. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/35 "2012-01-02T10:49:04Z")
Says the man with frequent sinus infections & allergies-- handkerchiefs **only**. Everything else goes to pieces, & leaves a mess. Also, the cost of many boxes of Kleenex really adds up. In the long run, 2 dozen hankies are cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/36 "2012-01-02T11:32:53Z")
> [@toofs](#): > > Toilet paper, even though I usually shotgun right through it leaving little speckles of wet tissue and snot in an expanding blast pattern down the front of my shirt. Kleenex does the same thing. Someone needs to market ballistic lined tissues or something. I’m not sure it’s necessary or healthy to be blowing your nose quite that hard. TP or tissues for me, whatever is handy. Paper towels seem like overkill to me! Blowing my nose doesn’t always accomplish much because my usual “stuffy nose” is from congestion more than from snot buildup, so I’m not the type who’s done extensive research on the best materials for mucus removal, but I do try to keep tissues (whatever kind is on sale) around the house because my husband is a chronic nose-blower. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/37 "2012-01-02T11:58:54Z")
I use kitchen roll (paper towels) if I need a heavy-duty blow. One sheet, folded over in half, is resilient enough for just about anything my nasal passages can throw at it. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/38 "2012-01-02T16:43:20Z")
I’ve always used Puffs Plus, the thick ones with lotion in them. Unless I accidentally blow my nose on the edge, they never blow through. And I have regular (daily) sinus problems that require me to blow my nose pretty often. I usually have two or three in my pocket every day. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959/39 "2012-01-03T04:11:03Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > I find that toilet paper is handy for both butt-wiping and nose-blowing. . . . One of the things I love about these threads is that, by the time a very few people have answered, someone has answered for me! TP. I’ve never bought a box of “facial tissues.” Seems like a foolish expense. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-your-nose/607959.md?page=1)