Bag stuffing question

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mushroomNgrass

mushroomNgrass

Member
Feb 23, 2023
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#1
When you stuff your bags, what do you use? How much do you use? The paper that came in my satchel, I believe makes bumps and lumps in the leather, when used as stuffing. I’m trying a couple towel instead to see if those bumps and lumps smooth out a little. Any ideas to smooth out the tiny bumps and lumps? is there a such thing as overstuffing Florentine leather bags?
 
#2
mushroomNgrass said:
When you stuff your bags, what do you use? How much do you use? The paper that came in my satchel, I believe makes bumps and lumps in the leather, when used as stuffing. I’m trying a couple towel instead to see if those bumps and lumps smooth out a little. Any ideas to smooth out the tiny bumps and lumps? is there a such thing as overstuffing Florentine leather bags?
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I use the paper that came with the bag or fresh tissue paper. Sometimes I add air pillows, but they tend to deflate.
From what I have read, using any cloth or fabric or towels is a bad idea because they absorb moisture and
can cause the bag to smell or develop mold.

Some manufacturers ship their bags with air pillows and others line the inside of the bag with large pieces of
cardboard to maintain the shape. Sometimes I use the cardboard as a frame and then stuff the bag with
tissue paper. I don't know if the cardboard is a good long term solution, but there is not that much.

The one thing I know for certain.... never store handbags in plastic wrap or plastic boxes.... the leather needs
air.
 
#4
A true collector would probably buy acid free tissue paper to use for their handbag babies.
I always worry that what the manufacturer uses for short term storage/shipment is not
always good for the leather in the long term. Keeping a bag or even it's
handle in plastic long term is not a good idea, for example. So what about the paper they
use inside? Is it OK. I don't know, but I can't buy more special supplies.
As it is, I put all light colored handbags in white or light color (washed) pillow cases, and not in the
dark dust bags that Dooney comes with. I worry about color transfer.

As for towels and fabric for stuffing.... again, in the short term to reshape a bag, probably fine.
For long term storage, not a good idea. Some manufacturers even tell customers not to store their
bag in the boxes they come in. And some advise about the position of the bag during storage to
prevent slouching of the leather.

From experience I know to keep the handles and straps up or tucked
into the bag. When the handles rest of the side of the bag they can leave marks or
the glazing can stick to the side of the bag and lift off some color! That has happened to me
more than once when bags leaned on each other.
 
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#6
Thank you for your very good insight. I see a lot of ladies store their bags on shelves without the dust bags. My husband suggested and over the door shoe rack to hang some of my bags. As space is premium, these larger bags are taking up a lot of coveted space in my closet. I wouldn’t mind a few shelves along one wall. I understand what you mean about the plastic and the leather. My mink is in a pillowcase in the chest freezer, my mom taught me that. I need to learn I don’t need EACH and EVERY color of the same bag…Now different sizes of the same bag is a different story, right??? LOL

Every time a package arrives and I set up the tripod for an unboxing, my hubby is giving me the side eye. I don’t say anything when his package comes and he has the same shirt in 4 or 5 different colors…
 
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#8
mushroomNgrass said:
Thank you for your very good insight. I see a lot of ladies store their bags on shelves without the dust bags. My husband suggested and over the door shoe rack to hang some of my bags. As space is premium, these larger bags are taking up a lot of coveted space in my closet. I wouldn’t mind a few shelves along one wall. I understand what you mean about the plastic and the leather. My mink is in a pillowcase in the chest freezer, my mom taught me that. I need to learn I don’t need EACH and EVERY color of the same bag…Now different sizes of the same bag is a different story, right??? LOL

Every time a package arrives and I set up the tripod for an unboxing, my hubby is giving me the side eye. I don’t say anything when his package comes and he has the same shirt in 4 or 5 different colors…
Click to expand...
mushroomNgrass said:
Thank you for your very good insight. I see a lot of ladies store their bags on shelves without the dust bags. My husband suggested and over the door shoe rack to hang some of my bags. As space is premium, these larger bags are taking up a lot of coveted space in my closet. I wouldn’t mind a few shelves along one wall. I understand what you mean about the plastic and the leather. My mink is in a pillowcase in the chest freezer, my mom taught me that. I need to learn I don’t need EACH and EVERY color of the same bag…Now different sizes of the same bag is a different story, right??? LOL

Every time a package arrives and I set up the tripod for an unboxing, my hubby is giving me the side eye. I don’t say anything when his package comes and he has the same shirt in 4 or 5 different colors…
Click to expand...
I ran into the same issue with my closet. Last year I bought a glass display case from Ikea which I really do like. Pardon the messiness below- I'm going through my inventory right now so everything isn't in this case. The case is MILSBO Glass-door cabinet, anthracite, 28 3/4x68 7/8 "

IKEA.jpg
 
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#11
mushroomNgrass said:
Oh wow it has a lock too. It’s perfect. I won’t be asking hubby I’ll be telling him i need this and ask him to put it together LOL
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LOL!! I am petite and not the strongest :biggrin:and I was able to put this thing together myself. The instructions suggested 2 people due to the glass but I wanted this done immediately. I also put lights in the top of it that are magnetic and motion sensing so that when I open the display case they come on automatically. I bought these from amazon and I'm including the hyperlink here. They work perfectly and the fact that they are magnetic and battery powered is really great for what it is being used for.
 
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#12
Thank you. I am super clumsy. All that glass+me=a trip to the ER for stitches. I love to see him pull out his tools and get handy. Makes him feel good and very needed. He just retired and I’m gonna add this project to my honey-do list. I’m so glad you showed me this ikea cabinet. Thank you
 
#14
mushroomNgrass said:
When you stuff your bags, what do you use? How much do you use? The paper that came in my satchel, I believe makes bumps and lumps in the leather, when used as stuffing. I’m trying a couple towel instead to see if those bumps and lumps smooth out a little. Any ideas to smooth out the tiny bumps and lumps? is there a such thing as overstuffing Florentine leather bags?
Click to expand...
Old thread but I didn't see anyone suggest the foldable stuffers called Innies. They come in small, med, & large. Currently the small is $17.99 (in 2020 $14) so they're pricey. I get them from The Container Store. I love them. Oh - & they are washable. I put one in a used bag to shape it up then after I took it out I wanted to wash it. It washed & dried up just fine.
 
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