My BFF is a flight attendant for American Airlines. When she first started flying with the carrier she was based out of New York where she shared a tiny loft apartment with five other flight attendants. To say she lived in tight quarters is an understatement.
Due to space issues, my pal used to nest her suitcases inside of each other. Seems innocent enough, right? Wrong, so very, very wrong, according to health experts. Luggage is far from clean and when you store one bag inside of another, so that the outside of one suitcase is touching the inside of another, you are just asking for trouble. Studies show that bacteria such as E.coli (which is found in fecal matter) can easily adhere to the bottom of a bag, especially if you place the bag on the floor of an airport restroom.
In order to keep bags from making you sick, it’s a good idea to clean them when you return from a trip. If your bag has grease stains, rub cornstarch on affected areas and let it sit for a couple of hours. Once time has elapsed, brush off the cornstarch and clean the area with a Clorox wipe or a mixture of liquid dish detergent and water. Ivory Snow works particularly well on bags that are made from delicate materials. However, if your bags are made from high-grade materials, such as genuine leather, then you might consider paying for a professional to rid it of stains, dirt and grime. Dry cleaners have special cleaning supplies to help them eliminate the stains without compromising the integrity of your bag.
Once the bag is clean spray it liberally with Scotchgard Fabric and Upholstery Protector. This preventative measure goes a long way to shield your bags from set-in stains. While you may not be able to protect it from grease and grime all together, the spray will make it easier for you to remove stains once they’ve taken up residence on the outside of your bag.