1. Introduction
Every time you pack, do you always think of your toiletry bag at the last minute? Don’t underestimate this small bag – it contains the “just needs” you need to keep your daily cleanliness and comfort, and it is the key to travel happiness. Imagine: after arriving at your destination, opening your suitcase, skin care products, toothbrushes, and razors are a mess, looking for a lipstick to rummage through the entire box; Or liquid skin care products leak, staining clothes and electronics, and the good mood disappears in an instant. And a suitable toiletry bag can easily solve these troubles, it is not only a storage tool, but also makes your washing process more efficient, and even becomes a small embellishment of your travel style.
The core function of the toiletry bag during travel is far more than “packing things”: it can classify and store various supplies to avoid cross-contamination; Isolate liquid leakage and protect luggage safety; improve access efficiency and save travel time; Some of the styles with exquisite designs can also show personal taste. This article brings you a comprehensive guide to toiletry bags, from types, selection to organization tips, and solves all your questions about toiletry bags in one stop.
2. Types of toiletry bags
(1) Toiletry bags made of different materials
The material directly determines the texture, durability and applicable scenarios of the toiletry bag, and the advantages and disadvantages of different materials are obviously different, and the choice based on your own needs is the key:
Material type | Core benefits | Applicable scenarios | Real case reference |
|---|---|---|---|
Fabric toiletry bag | Lightweight and breathable, diverse in style, cost-effective, foldable and space-saving | Excursions, daily commuting, student party trips | Many students and friends around me will choose canvas toiletry bags, which are light in weight, there is no pressure to stuff them into a backpack, and they can be machine washed directly when dirty |
Leather toiletry bag | It has a high-end texture, wear-resistant and durable, good waterproofness, and has a light luxury temperament | People traveling for business, long-distance travel, and pursuing quality | Last time I went on a business trip with my colleagues, the leather toiletry bag he brought was particularly high-grade when placed on the hotel sink, and after two years of use, except for slight wear, the overall was still intact |
Plastic toiletry bags | It has excellent water resistance, is easy to clean, is inexpensive, and is not afraid of liquid leakage | When traveling outdoors, vacationing by the sea, or carrying a lot of liquids | When I went on vacation to the beach, I deliberately chose a toiletry bag made of PVC material, which accidentally splashed in seawater, and it was clean after wiping, so I didn’t have to worry about moisture at all |
(2) Toiletry bags of different sizes and shapes
The choice of size and shape mainly depends on the number of days of travel and the number of supplies to carry, and choosing the right size can avoid the embarrassment of “can’t fit” or “too redundant”:
- Small toiletry bag: generally with a capacity of 1-3L, suitable for carrying a small amount of essentials, such as a business trip for 1-2 days or for gym use. The advantage is that it is extremely portable and can be put directly into a carry-on bag without taking up extra space. It is recommended to choose a model with a hook for easy hanging access.
- Medium toiletry bag: With a capacity of 3-8L, it is the most versatile size, suitable for short or medium to long distance travel of 3-7 days. It can easily accommodate a full set of skin care products, cosmetics, toiletries and other supplies, and most families will give preference to this size when traveling.
- Large toiletry bag: with a capacity of more than 8L, suitable for long-term travel (more than 10 days), family travel, or people who carry a large amount of cosmetics/skin care products. Some styles have a layered design, which can realize the partition storage of men’s and women’s supplies, and is full of practicality.
3. Choose the right toiletry bag
(1) Select according to the type of trip
The needs of different travel scenarios vary greatly, and targeted choices can make travel more worry-free:
- Short trips (1-3 days): The core need is “light and portable”, it is recommended to choose a small or medium-sized fabric toiletry bag. Focus on whether there is a separate small pocket to facilitate the storage of lipstick, contact lens cases and other small items, which can be folded to fit into the gap of the luggage compartment.
- Long-distance travel (more than 7 days): “large capacity + strong storage” is required, and priority is given to medium or large leather/plastic toiletry bags. The best style with layered compartment pockets and removable inner pockets is the best, which can sort and place cleaning products, skin care products, and cosmetics to avoid clutter.
- Business travel: Focusing on “texture + simplicity”, small or medium-sized leather toiletry bags are the first choice. It is recommended to choose low-key and calm colors such as black and brown, which have a simple appearance and no excessive decoration, which can not only show professionalism, but also conform to the temperament of business occasions.
(2) Consider personal needs
In addition to the type of travel, personal usage habits are also important considerations, focusing on these three points:
- Product capacity: First count the daily toiletries (such as facial cleanser, toner, toothbrush, razor, etc.), and select the capacity according to “total volume of items + 20% redundant space” to avoid wasting space if you choose a large one, and if you choose a small one, you can’t fit it.
- Organizational features: This is the key to improving the user experience! It is recommended to choose a style with multiple inner pockets, compartments, and elastic drawstrings, which can store small items (such as cotton swabs, cotton pads), liquid supplies, and tools (such as combs, nail clippers) separately for more efficient access.
- Portability: If you often travel short distances or carry it with you, give preference to lightweight and foldable styles with hooks (hooks can be hung next to the sink to save countertop space); Self-driving travel requires less portability, and can focus on capacity and storage functions.
4. Cleaning skills of toiletry bags
(1) How to pack toiletries effectively
The core of sorting is “classification + fixation”, follow the following steps to avoid messing up and leaking items:
- First classify: Divide items into four categories: “liquids” (such as toners, lotions), “solids” (such as soaps, toothbrushes), “tools” (such as combs, razors), and “small items” (such as cotton swabs and cotton pads).
- Handling liquids: All liquid supplies should be checked whether the caps are tightened, then wrapped around the mouth of the bottle with plastic wrap (extra leakage-proof), and finally put them into a sealed bag to avoid contaminating other items after leakage.
- Reasonable placement: Solids and tools are placed in the main compartment of the toiletry bag, and fixed with elastic straps (such as fixing toothbrushes and combs); put small items in inner pockets or pockets to avoid scattering; Liquid seals are placed on the bottom layer, away from the side where the clothes come into contact.
(2) Use separator bags and small containers
Make good use of auxiliary tools to make storage more refined: (1) Prepare 1-2 transparent sealed sachets to store small items or liquid samples, which can be seen at a glance; (2) Use travel-sized bottles to separate skin care products (calculated according to the number of travel days, generally 5-10ml is sufficient), which not only saves space but also meets the airport security check requirements (a single bottle of portable liquid does not exceed 100ml); (3) The detachable inner bag is suitable for couples or families, one inner bag per person, and the supplies do not interfere with each other, and can be taken out and used separately.
(3) Suggestions for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene
Long-term contact with water and cleaning products is easy to breed bacteria, so doing these two things can maintain hygiene: (1) After each trip, empty the toiletry bag in time, wipe the inside with a damp rag (special detergent for leather), and then put it in a ventilated place to dry to avoid moisture and mold; (2) Regularly replace sealed bags and travel-sized bottles in toiletry bags to prevent residual skin care products from deteriorating and contaminating new products. According to statistics, the number of bacteria in a long-term unclean toiletry bag may be as high as 10,000+/cm², and it is crucial to do a good job of cleaning.
5. Yigu (purchasing agent) point of view
As a senior purchasing agent, I recommend that when choosing a toiletry bag, you should give priority to “material safety + storage practicality”. When purchasing or selecting products in bulk, the fabric model should prefer encrypted canvas (with higher wear resistance), the leather model should be based on the first layer of cowhide (texture and durability are better than the second layer of leather), and the plastic model should be food-grade PVC (safer without odor). From the perspective of market trends, multi-functional toiletry bags with USB charging ports and foldable into cosmetic bags have continued to rise in demand in the past two years, whether it is for personal use or bulk purchase, it is a cost-effective choice. In addition, when purchasing, priority is given to manufacturers with independent design teams, which can ensure that the style is novel, and can also support customization to meet the needs of different scenarios.
6. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Q: What are the restrictions on carrying a toiletry bag and liquids? A: The volume of a single bottle of liquid skin care products carried on domestic flights does not exceed 100ml, and the total volume does not exceed 1L, and it needs to be packed in a transparent sealed bag; International flights generally have stricter requirements, so it is recommended to check the regulations of the destination airport in advance.
- Q: Is the leather toiletry bag afraid of water? What should I do if I accidentally get wet? A: Most leather toiletry bags have basic water resistance, but prolonged soaking is not recommended. After getting wet, use a dry rag to dry the surface moisture, put it in a ventilated place to dry naturally, do not use a hair dryer to bake at high temperature to avoid leather deformation and cracking.
- Q: When traveling as a family, choose a large toiletry bag or multiple small toiletry bags? A: It is recommended to choose a large toiletry bag + multiple small divider bags, large toiletry bags are stored in a unified manner, and the small divider bags are classified according to family members, which not only saves space, but also avoids the confusion of personal items.
- Q: How to remove the smell after using the toiletry bag for a long time? A: You can put a few pieces of activated carbon pack in the bag (absorb odors), or pour a small amount of baking soda (let it sit for one night and pour it out), and then ventilate and dry, the odor can be effectively removed.