Archive for December 10th, 2009
In the news Huge Handbags Can Be a Weight on Your Shoulders
My husband picked up my purse the other day.
“I can do curls with this,” he exclaimed.
He was right. Looking for something in my humongous handbag is like going on an excavation.
I was carrying a cell phone, a camera, a charger, two makeup bags, a comb, a magazine, a bottle of perfume, some jewelry, sunglasses in a case, a few letters to mail and a wallet full of change; not to mention the hardware on the purse itself, which probably adds another pound.
When I put my bag on the bathroom scale, it weighed in at a whopping 16.5 pounds.
This isn’t a new phenomenon. I’ve been carrying my life on my shoulders ever since my mother gave me my first megabag when I was a teenager. My purses have been getting larger ever since.
Apparently I’m not alone.
Jumbo-size purses are all the rage, but they can also be a big pain in the neck, shoulder, back, and can cause headaches, warns Dr. Shazia Khan, co-medical director at Loyola Primary Care Center, Loyola University Health System.
“I see lots of women for neck pains and headaches, and what I usually do is pick up their purse. Most of them say, ‘That’s what I thought,’” Khan said. “Large bags are fashionable, but if women are going to carry them, they need to make sure they don’t pay a price when it comes to their health.”
A woman shouldn’t lug around a pocketbooks 
that weighs more than 10 percent of her body weight — 15 pounds max, Khan said.
She suggests women use smaller purses made of light material. But if you’re like me, and you can’t bear to part with your hefty handbag, at the very least rotate it to the other shoulder from time to time. You might want to start incorporating neck, back and shoulder strength-training exercises into your workout routine.
Also look for a bag with broad straps that provide good shoulder support.
Let’s not even talk about the last resort: the fanny pack. Most women — including myself — would rather suffer than be seen with a fanny pack.
Khan also found that a big bag carries more than accoutrements — it can be a petri dish harboring harmful bacteria, including deadly E. coli and staphylococcus aureus, which can cause a skin infection and toxic shock syndrome.
“Women place their bags anywhere,” Khan said. “In the bathroom, on the floor, any surface. And you can spread infection. It’s like any large object that can pick up germs.”
She recommends women occasionally wipe down their purses — inside and out — with an anti-bacterial solution. And don’t put your bag on the floor at a restaurant or hang it on a hook in a public restroom. Purses also should be banned from kitchen counters and food preparation areas.
I don’t think I can part with my hefty handbags. But I do plan to lighten the load. And I’ll keep it clean from now on.
Step 1Determine how much money you wish to spend on a shoulder bag. You can spend as little as $10 up to several hundred dollars. Some shoulder bags, made of very expensive materials by elite designers, can even cost thousands of dollars. Set your budget first to make your shopping easier.
Choose a color, material and overall design for your shoulder bag. Select a bag in a color that matches or compliments your wardrobe, as well as a material that works for you. You may choose to purchase a shoulder bag in leather, suede, microfiber, cotton or canvas. In addition, pick a bag that fits in well with your overall style.
Think about the size of bag that you would like to have. You need to make sure that your shoulder bag will hold all of the items that you need to carry. However, you don’t want your shoulder bag to be too large, overpowering for your body or too heavy to carry comfortably.
Examine the shoulder bag’s workmanship. Check the zipper or closure to make sure that it operates properly. Look for durable and neat stitching on the bag. Also, examine the lining of the shoulder bag to check for high-quality materials, such as silk. Finally, make sure that the shoulder straps attach firmly to the body of the bag.
Consider strap length and strap style. Choose a shoulder bag that falls comfortably along your body when you put the straps over your shoulder. Many shoulder bags have straps with buckles or other adjusters, which allow you to change the strap length to best suit you. Also, consider if you wish to purchase a shoulder bag with one or two shoulder straps.
Try on the shoulder bag and see if it’s easy and convenient to use. If you have to struggle to open the bag, it won’t be handy when you need something out of your bag in a hurry.
Step 1Purchase your products. You can get saddle soap and mink oil from pet supply stores, farm and feed stores, or equestrian dealers. If you have a delicate or expensive purse, consider purchasing the special products available from Lovin’ My Bags. These were specially formulated for the special circumstances involved with handbags and purses.
Remove any items from the pockets and spaces. Turn the purse upside down and gently shake it. Brush the lining out to knock loose any additional debris. If the purse is sturdy enough, you can even vacuum it with a low-suction vacuum cleaner.
Use a soft, barely damp white cloth and wipe down the entire purse to remove any surface debris.
Test a small, inconspicuous area for colorfastness with the soap or cleanser. Let it sit for a while and examine it to make sure it’s not going to leave a mark. If it does leave a mark, use another cleanser.
Clean the leather by massaging the saddle soap or handbag leather cleaner into the grain of the leather. Use a second cloth to blot out stains. You can use a soft toothbrush to pull up dirt or debris ingrained into the leather.
Moisturize the leather purse with mink oil or a special handbag leather moisturizer/conditioner. You can use a cloth or your own hands, moving in a gentle circular motion. Take care to reach every portion of the purse, including the seams and crevices. Wipe off the oily residue with a clean cloth. Buff the leather well.
Apply any other products to the purse, including products for color restoration, shine or odor removal. Check out Lovin’ My Bags for options.
Clean, repair, and shine the purse’s hardware. You may need to re-plate the hardware if it is bad. Use a type of cleaner specific to the metal.
If the purse is in bad shape, consider taking it to a professional. Shoe cobblers will usually do purse and bag restoration. You also can take it to small specialty mom-and-pop shops.