Do you baby your bags or accessories?
For a bag snob like myself, its a perfectly valid question (Yes I’m a self-proclaimed snob 😉 ) Expensive or light coloured bags shouldn’t be sullied by dirt on the floor or just about any surface. But it could very well apply to other accessories like wallets or shoes or jewellery, if that’s your thing.
Do you baby them?
By “baby” I mean look after them well, clean them after use whenever possible, store them in their dustbags or in proper cases/pouches/boxes/shelves.
In my case, I do. I almost never put my bags down on the floor, wherever I am and whatever the brand the bag may be. If I’m dining out at a decent restaurant, I have my bag placed on a chair next to me. In fact, most restaurants will offer this. Some I’ve been to actually offer me a stool or chair to place my bag on, which can then be placed next to me, or under the table. Very practical. I’ve been to a restaurant that have a “bag cover” – a cloth cover they place over your bag so it doesn’t accidentally get food on it (or pickpocketed). It wasn’t local though.
If I’m out and about indulging in my street food, which I love, my bags are kept on my lap. I never let them out of my sight or grasp. For safety as well for cleanliness.
I do clean my bags after use, when I’m switching to a different one, but not everyday. I’m not that paranoid 😛 I’m a little more careless with wallets. I must admit I don’t take very good care of my wallets in terms of cleaning them, but I am careful with how I use them and where I place them (on my lap usually).
I’m not careful about shoes at all unfortunately. That’s probably why I don’t own many or any very expensive shoes. They don’t get enough care 😛
What about you? Are you blasé about your bags or accessories or do you baby them? Are you more particular if they are expensive items as opposed to a less expensive one?
Paris B
I’d def never put my bag on a tree ground! LOL That is for sure. I also put my bag in the next chair or even behind me if there is no chairs available. The other day I saw this girl at a restaurant put her bag on the floor and stepped on it with her shoes *shudders* I’ll try and clean my bags, but I’m not vigilant on it as much I guess. I try to buy bags with darker colors so I wouldn’t have to 😉
Haha well, firstly I’d probably carry something really battered or something washable to the park 😉 I’ve seen girls do the same thing you described and my heart bleeds. It doesn’t have to be an expensive bag, but I get upset when I see people mistreating their bags and even worse, if its a pricey one!
I really should, but it’s just difficult for me to do so. With young kids in tow, really, babying bags is the last thing I can manage! That’s why I’m now mainly into nylon bags like LSS, so I can just dump them in the washing machine. The bad things abt storing bags back in their respective dustbags for me, is that I tend not to use them again (or very rarely) as it’s too troublesome for me (or maybe out of sight out of mind?!).
Ah I guess its different once you have kids in tow 🙂 Having a lesportsac does the job well as you can just wash it as you’ve pointed out. I tend to be a little lazy too about switching my bags. I get so comfortable carrying one that I could go for months. Its a conscious effort to actually take everything out, clean it out, and take another out to use.
It’s great to be back to my usual daily routine, i.e. reading Paris’ blog LOL
Anyway, I do baby my bags but only when they are still new or the very expensive one. Like, I will never put my MIU MIU on the floor but I might occasionally put my TUMI on the floor, it kinda got dirty and I figure bags are there to be used, and my back is priceless compared to my bag :/
I have a backpack which I have owned for more than 8 years, it’s so hardwearing I just schlep it everywhere. You know when I’m running around (practically since I don’t drive), I’d just prefer to get my backpack and dump everything in there. Practical.
Although, I do take care of my good (leather) shoes though 😀 Hence most of the time here I just wear Converse or French Sole.
Hope you have a good Sunday 😀
Welcome back to the world of the internet! 😀 I don’t count backpacks though – they aren’t bags 😛 I toss mine everywhere when I travel because to me, they are meant to take that sort of abuse – contradictory eh? 😛 I’ve been thinking if I will get a pair of nice shoes some day. But knowing me and how quickly I scuff mine, I think I’d just sleep on it 😉
Hi Paris,
I might be in need of your help, i just bought a Prada deerskin (cervo) bag yesterday and i was trying to google info about caring for them, and i found very contradicting info like some sites says dont use protection polish that contains oil in it, some say dont even do anything to it as protection polishes will cause the color to darken and be uneven… so i honestly have no idea what to do with my bag now, or in fact how to even basically care for it.
Do you have any idea?
Thanks!
hi josephine, go to mybagspa.com to get an idea what u can do to take care of yr new bag (a miu miu. wow!). alternatively, visit them to get advice. i’ve been to two different outlets in kl and they hv really friendly staff who are eager to share their knowledge. my kate spade bag was badly attacked by moulds and they repaired them to like new. it was worth the price i had to pay, but it’s taught me a very valuable lesson to not be lazy about taking care if my bags. hth.
oops sorry, i meant prada 🙂
Thanks Shah – that was a great tip! 🙂
Thank you so much Shah, wasn’t expecting replies so fast! But mybagspa.com did help, i will try to go visit one soon. Thanks again for the rec.
Hi Josephine. First, congrats on that bag! It sounds absolutely divine! I almost bought a deerskin bag from Celine many years ago but passed because the SA told me quite honestly that fingernail scratches could show up. Otherwise it was gorgeous. I’m not certain how best to clean or care for a deerskin bag since I don’t own one. It appears that deerskin is very hardy although prone to scratches so watch those nails but it also appears that different treatments can make it more delicate than it really is. What I’d do is check with the Prada boutique to see if they have any idea. And to be perfectly safe, I would probably not do much with it (but just take care not to dirty it too much if its a light shade).
Hi Paris,
Thanks for replying too. Yes, i love it cos it’s so buttery soft and light weight too. 🙂
Depends on my bag 🙂 If I’m carrying my Pradas or my Neverfull, I’m more mindful of where I put it. And I try to clean my Neverfull as often as I can. My Le Pliage from Longchamp gets the worst treatment. But I never put them on dirt! The worst is on the floor. Then I sprayed it with my hand sanitizer 😛
I try not to put anything on the floor although sometimes, as you’ve pointed out, we may not be able to help it. I just try to find the cleanest patch of floor… or leave it on my lap 🙂
Not as much as I should, but I only have a canvas Jack Spade messenger bag (which already has all sorts of water resistance, etc) and a Kate Spade (haha) leather cross body that I only use on occasion. Learnt my lesson – never buy faux leather ANYTHING.
I learnt my lesson with faux leather too. The worst is when it starts to peel. urgh
Hmmm… I hardly baby anything in my possession. iPhone was waterlogged once (am still using it muahahahahaha), bags are used and abused (never had expensive ones, and the Longchamp is MADE for use, no?) and shoes are trodden on until they die.
As for bags on the floor, they only meet the floor in my house. heh heh heh.
aw.. I guess I’m quite particular about my stuff whether gadgets or bags or whatever 🙂 Only thing not quite feeling my love is shoes which I don’t abuse per se, but don’t take as good care of as I should 🙂 I’d say the Longchamp is made for use yes. I do use mine very casually but they still get cleaned and not thrown around just anywhere 🙂
Yes … i do. My bags mostly on my shoulder or on my lap. I wont even put on chairs (even if i do, i will be partially holding it) … umm I m more paranoid about snatch thieves!
Haha you sound like me 😀 Even when I have it on a chair, part of the strap is looped around my wrist (if its long enough) but if its in proper decent restaurant I just keep it in sight and stuff the chair under the table to “hide” it 🙂
I do try to keep my bags off the floor and clean them every once a while. When not in use, I store them in dustbags, away from direct heat and preferably in a cabinet. Most important thing is to keep leather bags or accessories dry. The same with shoes, I do keep them in shoe boxes in a cabinet, except for the ones I use daily.
I do like to keep my things clean and in good condition but I’m not completely anal about it 😉
You’re right about having to keep leather dry. I’ve put in dehumidifers/moisture absorbers into my cabinet so my leather goods are “safe” 😉
I try not to put my bags on the floor. They are usually put on a chair next to me if possible. Or else in my lap. Some of my friends put their bags on the same chair they are sitting on, behind them. But i find this position uncomfortable and unsafe. Haha, and this are the same friends who think that positioning my bag in my lap uncomfortable. Btw, if the chairs are cushioned types, i won’t put my bag on them either. I ‘visualise’ that the cloth coverings are impossible to clean and are magnets for all sorts of bacteria.
Oh I sometimes put my bags behind me too but it depends on where I am 🙂 I’ve seen people leave their bags on chairs while they go and order food or purchase items, and I always wonder how they can do that – its so unsafe!
Guilty as charged! 😛
I, too, almost never put my bags on the floor, and if I REALLY have to, I’ll give it a good wipe with an antibacterial wipe later. It’s usually on my lap most of the time, or behind me on my seat. Depending on the material I usually give it a wipe with an antibacterial wipe every once a week or once every two weeks, and I stuff them and put them in dust bags for storage 😛 For my leather bags, they’re cleaned at least once a month. This applies to all my bags haha!
That’s why I guess I prefer more hard-wearing, rugged bags like the Timbuk2 I am using now 🙂
I also kind of baby my accessories, but not the costume type (Which I rarely own/wear anyway) and I have a jewellery box for the jewellery I am normally wearing at the moment. Jewellery that aren’t worn for quite some time are wrapped in cotton and stored in small ziplock pouches then inside the box they came with (If they have any) if possible to prevent any oxidation 😛
I don’t baby my shoes, though… my most expensive ones are my sports shoes/trainers/sneakers but they’re put in a box when not worn.
This is part of the reason I like cross body bags or bags that can be slung on the shoulder – its easier to hold it off the floor 🙂 I think I should learn to take better care of my footwear. I tend to just leave them lying around 😛
Gasp! Did you put your bag on the ground to be photographed just for the blog? 😛
Oh I definitely baby my bag. I’d rather sacrifice bum space on the chair so that the bag can sit on it rather than on the floor. It sickens me to the core to see expensive bags on the floor (a very common sight in Australia, sadly). The only time a bag of mine would be on the floor is when I use an Envirosax, and if I really can’t find a space for it. Other than that, shoot me first 😛
Haha! NEVER! Its a stock photo 😉 I may dump my reusable bags on the floor but that’s coz I wash them thereafter. Leather bags almost never touch the floor (unless its at home and the floor’s just been cleaned)
I love my bags – always use a dust bag (sometimes two!) and clean them and never put them on the floor of my father’s dirty car!
Two dust bags! Placing them on a car floor is one of the dirtiest places, I gotta agree!
I don’t baby many things. I already have 2 babies to care for! I try to clean them whenever I can and when not in use I do put them in dustbags. The only thing is, I have put my Burberry on the office floor before. Does that count as abusing it?
Haha I guess having babies makes things different 🙂
Oh, no freaking way. Mine’s always on the chair next to me or behind me or on a bag hook. There’s no way my bag would ever touch the ground. And when I’m done using them, I always store them back in its dust bag and proper stuffing to hold its shape. I regret overstuffing my Lockit because it’s a little bent out of shape 🙁 I think I’ll use the Lockit this week for work! 😀
Yay! Maybe we can be Lockit twins this week 😀
Oh, on shoes, I forgot! I thrash my Chloe boots pretty badly, to be honest and they have served me faithfully. My Louboutins only ever get to go to work or carpeted places 😛 And I’ve only worn my Choos once to work because I needed that boost of confidence (height) in a divisional presentation. So, yes, I baby some of them. (My heart broke when the red sole of the Louboutins wore off from wearing :P)
I’m guilty of not babying them ): I always put my bag on the floor of the car for safety reasons but I never put them on the floor in restaurants and all, especially if I can carry them or put them on my lap! Hehe. So I partially baby them? Lol.
i put my bag on the floor of the car too, but in a shopping bag, so it stays nice & clean and hopefully doesnt pick up any icky stuff
Ah yes, the putting the bag on the floor of the car for safety reasons. Well, ladies, this is what I used to do when I was driving in Malaysia. I always have a shawl/old shirt that I toss onto the passenger seat. The reason for this is to cover up my bag on the passenger seat. I find it hard to leave my bag on the floor of the car 🙁 Alternatively, I stow it in the boot. Out of sight, out of mind.
I do the toss a cover over it thing. I don’t like putting it in the boot because that too has its attendant dirt issues and I have my wallet etc in there
That’s a good idea too! Lots of the big reusable bags can serve this purpose 🙂
I know what you mean about car safety. I do what LeGeeque has suggested and toss a cover over it while in the car so I don’t have to put it on the floor 🙂
i have special beauty creams just for my bags!
That’s taking babying to pampering level! 😀
1. With a real baby in hand who runs wildly on Jusco floor, i hv no choice to drop down my bag to pick her up. A living baby is more babier than Dior bags 😀
2. With too many bags in hand, i hv no choice to put milk and water bottles for my baby in the bag as well. no choice.. but i do watchout for any milk leakage, tho 😀
Haha Perhaps this is exempted for those with real babies 😉 Its hard enough managing babies, what more having to baby your bags 😀
I am like you! I will always put my bag on my lap or hang it in a bag hanger ring. It’s like a hook that can balance on the table top with a hook to hold the bag.
I have been to Din Tai Fung in Singapore and they have a bag holder with a cloth cover to cover the precious bag. 🙂
Ah it might have been Din Tai Fung in Shanghai that had that bag cover thing 😀 Its nice to know its a practice elsewhere too although i’m not sure they do the same here