# No Kleenex = bad host? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 12, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835 "2006-12-12T17:13:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/61 "2006-12-13T12:41:27Z")
[QUOTE=cowgirl] (responding to a question about paper napkins) Nope, fabric. And, in the spirit of **gigi** ’s post above - when there aren’t any clean ones, I use _::hangs head in shame::_ my cleanest washcloths. My guests aren’t expecting formality when they come to my place. Thank goodness. [/QUOTE] Hey, half my washcloths are old fabric napkins. Mom remarked on how the tablecloth for that set got turned into dustcloths ages ago but all 12 napkins were still around and that she hates it. Since she’d mentioned buying me washcloths, I suggested just putting a bow on the corner. She stared at me, digested the idea and set out to sewing right away. I do keep paper kitchen towels as well as kleenex in packs of 10 (the towels are for “dirty stuff” like wiping the counter, the cloths for “clean stuff” like drying my hands or the dishes). There’s some colds that my family refers to as “a One Scottex cold” or even “a Two Scottex Cold” but I do sneeze when I’m outside the house too and carrying a roll of TP in my handbag would be a tad weird, I think. Plus my handbag isn’t that large. Since I have kleenex in my house for my own use, it’s available for guests. Back before there were kleenex, if a guest sneezed we’d just hand him a clean hanky. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/62 "2006-12-13T13:01:09Z")
> [@cazzle](#): > > Does it really cost more to have four open boxes of tissues throughout the house than it would to have one open box that you have to replace four times as often? I don’t think they get used faster just because they’re accessible and they don’t exactly go off so I think it takes me as long to use four boxes that are open simultaneously as it would to use them one at a time. I suppose if you live in a huge house, having Kleenex in each room is sensible. But I live in a one-bedroom apartment. If I have to blow my nose, I take one step and I’m in the bathroom. I think if I had Kleenex around, I’d be promoting wasteful consumption. My aunt is a big Kleenex user. She can go through half a box just putting on her makeup. A couple of tissues is just never enough. This makes no sense to me and I refuse to have such waste in my house. If she’s gonna be wasteful, at least she can use the cheaper toliet paper. You pro-tissue folks probably think we anti-tissue folks are barbarians, but I think you guys are the epitome of overpampered bourgeious. It’s just snot, people! 😃 > [@](#): > > One more thing about TP… well, if you understand how flushing spreads particulate matter, you might think twice about putting it in your face. Ewww. That’s why I always flush with the lid down. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/63 "2006-12-13T13:24:17Z")
There is a box of Kleenex on the bed side table on the other side of my bed. What else am I meant to provide…a box per room? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/64 "2006-12-13T15:11:10Z")
[QUOTE=pbbth] I would have been on the side of the people who say you should bring your own up until about 2 days ago. I got sick…really sick. I was at work and there was not a single tissue to be found. They have the cheap, giant rolls of toilet paper (to prevent theft I assume, or why else wouldnt they just use regular rolls?) that are not soft on the facial features. I rubbed my face raw and had huge piles of toilet paper on my desk since I couldnt take a roll with me and it didn’t tear off into neat little sheets. I bought my own kleenex to work the next day and my life improved immensely. If they had kleenex or puffs plus or something at work my face wouldn’t have been red and blotchy all day! I feel really bad about the people who work around me having to listen to me blow my nose every 15 seconds for the past couple of days, but maybe this will inspire them to give us offices or at least cubes with high walls so people don’t have to look directly at you for that kind of thing. Maybe when it is your friends you should bring your own, or at least say something like, “You don’t have kleenex? I am making a run to the store for some tissues…do you need anything? Kleenex perhaps?” and then go get your own. At work though, they should be a requirement. [/QUOTE] 'Tis a whole 'nother rant, but if I was your boss I would have sent you home for the day, and tomorrow as well, where you could have your own Kleenex. There’s no way you didn’t get someone else sick with all that freshly sick snot everywhere. I hate it when people come to work in an office sick. Sure, you feel irreplaceable for three days, but going in sick and spreading the illness lowers productivity for everyone for three weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/65 "2006-12-13T16:40:40Z")
[QUOTE=Pleonast] Weird. I keep a box of kleenex in every room in the house. And a paper waste can in every room too. They’re there for me whether or not guests are around. I hate having a sneeze surprise me; why should I have to run to the bathroom? What if someone else is using it? It’s not like sneezes can be easily delayed. I prefer not spreading mucus into the air or my clothing or hands. Thus, easily found tissues in every room. [/QUOTE] I’m the same way. I have box of Kleenex in practically every room in the house. It doesn’t seem rude to not have them but just odd. I might feel a little funny if somone asked me for a kleenex to go use toilet paper. Or maybe not, it never came up! 😃 I’m not the greatest hostess in the world. I buy them because I use them. I have a friend who always gives me a hard time because I never have regular soda in the house, just diet. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/66 "2006-12-13T17:28:41Z")
> [@](#): > > One more thing about TP… well, if you understand how flushing spreads particulate matter, you might think twice about putting it in your face. Ewww. We’re not talking about using the _used_ TP, after all. And keeping Kleenex in the bathroom would be similar. And so would being in the bathroom and touching anything. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/67 "2006-12-13T17:43:09Z")
[QUOTE=Shoshana] We’re not talking about using the _used_ TP, after all. And keeping Kleenex in the bathroom would be similar. And so would being in the bathroom and touching anything. [/QUOTE] Most TP rolls sit on a dispenser right next to the commode… I don’t keep tissue in the lavvy. If you decide you need privacy to blow your nose (?), you can get one from another room and go to town. And maybe I’m strange, but I keep my toothbrush in a case. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/68 "2006-12-13T17:47:25Z")
I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to flush Kleenex (it’s Puffs at our house – they’re softer). Maybe that’s why I’ve had to call Roto-Rooter twice in three years. But it’s also why I don’t blow with toilet paper – it’s not strong enough unless you use two or three layers. ---
**Author:** ![ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/69 "2006-12-13T18:54:25Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] 'Tis a whole 'nother rant, but if I was your boss I would have sent you home for the day, and tomorrow as well, where you could have your own Kleenex. There’s no way you didn’t get someone else sick with all that freshly sick snot everywhere. I hate it when people come to work in an office sick. Sure, you feel irreplaceable for three days, but going in sick and spreading the illness lowers productivity for everyone for three weeks. [/QUOTE] I generally agree, but I should mention that runny nose does not always mean infected. I try to be very sensitive about this sort of thing, if I’m out sick for a day or two I’ll ask for “work from home” days afterwards to make sure I’m all well before coming back. But I can have a mildly runny nose for a week or more after I stop being sick. I don’t know why, it’s just true. My son is unfortunately the same way, he gets a chronic runny nose all winter it seems. If you are sick though, stay the hell home. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/70 "2006-12-13T18:56:13Z")
[QUOTE=Captain\_C] roll of toilet paper cost: $.33 box of kleenex cost: $1.50 need I say more? And the toilet paper can be used for other things too! You guys should meet my crazy roommate who demands we use napkins instead of paper towel. Why the heck would I pay extra for someone to fold up my paper towel? I’m just going to unfold it as soon as I get it anyway. Sheeesh!!! [/QUOTE] I use napkins too, not paper towels. I guess because my mother did? I never thought about it, just bought them. I don’t know, this whole thread has me weirded out. Seriously, do people not buy kleenex and napkins because of the cost? I’m not extravagant, but a box of kleenex costs about a dollar and lasts weeks. If you go to one of the stores that sell all the big food like 5 gallon drums of ketchup, you can get a case and it’s probably cheaper than that. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/71 "2006-12-13T19:08:47Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] My mom is a nurse so sneezing into anything but a hankie or a tissue was verboten in my house. (Don’t y’all know that’s how germs are spread? Didn’t you see the educational film in school when they show a dude sneezing in slow motion and all of the droplets fly out at 50 mph?) I think hankies are disgusting as well so it’s tissue for me. (Just saw an old PIF from the 1950s where the character is taught to wash his hanky in Dettol. Still gross!) … I feel like Joseph Lister now. It is my goal to convert you all to using tissue when you sneeze! (And I don’t even own stock in Kimberly-Clark - just 'cos I care about y’all.) [/QUOTE] I fail to believe that you are able to grab a tissue before every sneeze. Do you always carry one in your hand? Do you always sense it coming like 3-5 minutes in advance? Do you never have an instant, unexpected sneeze? If so, what then? Do you sneeze into your hand? Your sleeve? Die of germ exposure? You can’t possibly head off every sneeze with a tissue. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/72 "2006-12-13T19:15:22Z")
My grandmother has a box of tissues on every table in every room of her place. I’ve always thought it excessive, but, hey, it’s her home to do what she wants. It’s certainly wonderful to always have a tissue within reach, as I tend to get runny noses when I visit due to the difference in humidity. In my apartment, though, I don’t have any tissues. I use toilet paper, and I go into the bathroom when I blow my nose, because that’s where the toilet paper is. I hate listening to noses being blown, so I try not to do it around others. I do have one friend, though, who not only does not have tissues, he doesn’t have paper towels, and buys the absolute cheapest toilet paper ever produced. It’s so thin I can see through it. It does make a difference in how eager I am to visit his house, although I never realized it. I think I’ll pick up a box of Kleenex for my guests. Make my grandmother proud. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/73 "2006-12-13T19:17:01Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] Seriously, do people not buy kleenex and napkins because of the cost? I’m not extravagant, but a box of kleenex costs about a dollar and lasts weeks. [/QUOTE] When I am suffering from allergies, a box of kleenex lasts me less than a day. When I’m not suffering, I don’t need any. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/74 "2006-12-13T19:45:27Z")
[QUOTE=Bear\_Nenno] I fail to believe that you are able to grab a tissue before every sneeze. Do you always carry one in your hand? Do you always sense it coming like 3-5 minutes in advance? Do you never have an instant, unexpected sneeze? If so, what then? Do you sneeze into your hand? Your sleeve? Die of germ exposure? You can’t possibly head off every sneeze with a tissue. [/QUOTE] Well, no. I admit it - I have sneezed into the air or in my hand! But I usually get a few seconds’ warning about a sneeze. That’s all I need, really, especially at home. More often than not I do catch the sneeze with a tissue. I imagine you have on occasion caught a sneeze in a paper receptacle of your choice, yes? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/75 "2006-12-13T19:57:36Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Is this the point where I suggest you slather it on your face/boobs or is that some other point? [/QUOTE] No, I meant I want a \*\*real \*\* pearl necklace for Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/76 "2006-12-13T20:23:49Z")
Once again, I am amazed at the heat that can generate over the most innocuous of topics. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/77 "2006-12-13T20:54:09Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] Word. I feel like Elaine did in that Seinfeld episode when everybody starts using a knife and fork to eat chocolate bars! My mom is a nurse so sneezing into anything but a hankie or a tissue was verboten in my house. (Don’t y’all know that’s how germs are spread? Didn’t you see the educational film in school when they show a dude sneezing in slow motion and all of the droplets fly out at 50 mph?) I think hankies are disgusting as well so it’s tissue for me. (Just saw an old PIF from the 1950s where the character is taught to wash his hanky in Dettol. Still gross!) I don’t think you have to buy the top shelf snotrags. They all do the same. I’m happy to buy CVS or Shaw’s brand… it’s always on sale. Same with napkins. For me, tissue is too soft and paper towels are too rough for my mouth parts. One more thing about TP… well, if you understand how flushing spreads particulate matter, you might think twice about putting it in your face. Ewww. May I ask what kind of TP y’all are using? Because when I blow my ordinary 2-ply TP leaves little bits on my shirt. I don’t think TP can handle the force of my sneezes. I feel like Joseph Lister now. It is my goal to convert you all to using tissue when you sneeze! (And I don’t even own stock in Kimberly-Clark - just 'cos I care about y’all.) [/QUOTE] TP? Now you’re in my realm. I get nothing but the best stuff. I want the stuff that feels like I’m wiping my ass with a pillow, a cloud, or only the fluffiest of bunnies. You don’t scrimp on butt tape. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/78 "2006-12-13T20:56:17Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] No, I meant I want a \*\*real \*\* pearl necklace for Christmas. [/QUOTE] But it IS real! It’s real..heartfelt emotion! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/79 "2006-12-13T20:57:53Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Once again, I am amazed at the heat that can generate over the most innocuous of topics. [/QUOTE] Let’s not mention the “toilet paper up and over or down and under” debate. It made Thanksgiving dinner that much more eventful this year. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835/80 "2006-12-13T21:23:44Z")
[QUOTE=monstro] What’s next? Expecting your host to provide you with maxi pads? [/QUOTE] Well, actually, having been out at a friend’s house waaaaaay out in the country and getting surprised by an “early visit”, and finding out neither she nor any of the other female guests were in possession of any feminine hygiene productst AT ALL (I ended up having to use lots and lots of folded toilet tissue until I could get home), I keep maxi pads in my guest bathroom even though I personally don’t need them anymore. I also keep trial sizes of all sorts of personal hygiene products in the medicine cabinets in case someone finds themselves needing something they don’t have with them. I like to be thoughtful, whether they’re “guests”, a once-a-week friend, or family. As for tissues, I keep them in the kitchen, the office and beside my bed. I also have trash cans in all those places. Note, it wouldn’t occur to me to consider anyone who doesn’t do these things a bad host, but I personally like to do them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-kleenex-bad-host/383835.md?page=5)