Made to Last. Cared For Easily.
Complete Care Guide: Everything you need to know about washing, ironing, folding, storing, and getting the most from your Hav-A-Hank® natural cotton handkerchief.
CARE AT A GLANCE
Natural Cotton Gets Better With Every Wash
Unlike synthetic fabrics that degrade over time, natural cotton softens and improves with washing. A properly cared-for Hav-A-Hank® handkerchief will last decades — and feel better at year ten than it did on day one.
MACHINE WASH
Wash cold with your regular detergent. No special cycle needed.
Use your regular detergent.
Tip: Wash whites separately to maintain brightness over time.
AIR OR LINE DRY
Line drying in sunlight naturally whitens cotton over time — no bleach needed. If machine drying, remove promptly and shake out to prevent deep creases. Low to medium heat only.
Tip: No fabric softener needed — cotton softens naturally with every wash.
IRON WHILE DAMP
A medium-hot iron on slightly damp cotton produces a perfectly crisp, sharp press. This is the single most effective thing you can do for a clean pocket fold. Starch lightly for pocket squares that hold their shape all day.
Tip: Iron on the reverse side to protect any personalization embroidery.
STORE FLAT OR FOLDED
Store flat in a drawer or neatly folded into a square. No special storage required. A Hav-A-Hank® hanky stored properly will be as good as new in ten years — and better in twenty.
Tip: For long-term storage, wrap in acid-free tissue paper to prevent yellowing.
How to Wash Your Hav-A-Hank
Natural cotton is one of the most forgiving fabrics to launder. No special treatment, no hand wash required, no dry cleaning. Here is the simplest and most effective approach.
Sort by color
Wash white and cream hankies with other whites. Wash paisley colorways with similar colors. This maintains brightness over many washes.
Wash cold
Wash cold with your regular detergent. No special cycle needed.Use your regular detergent.
Tip: Wash whites separately to maintain brightness over time.
Use regular detergent
No special detergent needed. Avoid bleach on paisley colorways — it will fade the print. Oxygen-based whitener (like OxiClean) is safe for whites.
Skip the fabric softener
Cotton softens naturally with every wash. Fabric softener leaves a coating that actually reduces absorbency over time. You do not need it.
Remove promptly
Remove from the machine as soon as the cycle ends and give each hanky a firm shake. This prevents deep set creases and makes ironing much easier.
DO
DON'T
- Machine wash -cold water
- Wash whites with whites
- Use regular laundry detergent
- Use oxygen whitener on whites
- Remove promptly after washing
- Wash frequently — cotton loves it
- Use chlorine bleach on paisley prints
- Use fabric softener
- Dry clean — not necessary
- Leave wet in the machine
- Wash paisley colorways with whites
- Wring aggressively — just shake out
For New Hankies
Wash your Hav-A-Hank® before first use. This pre-shrinks the cotton slightly, removes any finishing agents from manufacturing, and immediately begins the softening process. After the first wash, it is already better than it was in the package.
How to Iron a Cotton Handkerchief
Ironing is optional for everyday carry, but essential for a crisp breast pocket fold. A well-ironed cotton hanky holds every fold style cleanly and stays in place all day. It takes 60 seconds and is completely worth it.
Iron slightly damp
The single most important tip: iron while the hanky is still slightly damp from washing, or mist lightly with water before ironing. Damp cotton presses to a sharp, crisp finish that dry cotton cannot match.
Use medium-high heat
Cotton can handle heat. Use the cotton or linen setting on your iron — higher than you'd use for synthetics. This produces a sharp, lasting press.
Press from the center out
Start in the center and press outward to the edges. This prevents fabric from bunching and keeps the hem flat and even.
Iron reverse side for embroidery
If your hanky is personalized, iron from the reverse side to protect the embroidery. A clean cloth between the iron and the embroidery adds extra protection.
Starch for pocket squares
For a breast pocket square that holds its fold all day, apply a light mist of spray starch before ironing. The cotton absorbs it beautifully — the result is a fold with genuine structure.
Get Your Hav-A-Hank® 14×14
Every fold in this guide works best with a generous 14×14 cut. Our natural cotton holds creases cleanly, creates a fuller puff, and softens with every wash. Made in the USA since 1946.
