Wash Bags & Make-up Bags

Wash bag or make up bag: what sets them apart

Wash bags, which you may know as toiletry bags, are the larger of the two. They hold the bathroom side of a routine: shampoo, a toothbrush, a razor, deodorant and anything else that might drip. Make up bags are usually smaller and flatter, sized for a handbag, with room for foundation, mascara, a lipstick and a brush or two. You will also see them sold as cosmetic bags or makeup bags: the name changes but the bag does not.

Weekend, fortnight or gym: how big a bag you need

Start with the tallest bottle you pack, since that decides how tall the bag must be. For a weekend, a compact bag and travel-size bottles leave room in a cabin case. A week or a fortnight away needs something roomier, with space for full-size shampoo and sun cream, while for the gym, something small and quick to grab will do.

Shape matters too. A bag that stands up on its own suits a narrow hotel shelf, a flat one packs neatly down the side of a suitcase, and a make up bag for a handbag should be slim enough to sit beside your purse. At home, measure the shelf or drawer it will live in.

How the materials cope with spills and damp

Cotton is soft and takes colour well, but on its own it soaks up a spill, so it works best with a lining that wipes clean. Plastic shrugs off a leaking bottle and wipes clean in seconds, which is why it turns up so often inside wash bags. Polyester is light, dries quickly and keeps its shape in a packed case.

Most of ours use some metal. Many are cotton, for a soft fabric look, while many include plastic and a few are polyester. If a soft outside or a lining that copes with a split bottle matters to you, check the product details before you choose.

Packing bottles, brushes and razors

Tighten the lids, and for anything runny, lay a square of cling film over the neck of the bottle before the cap goes back on. Stand bottles upright and keep liquids together in a small pouch of their own, so a leak stays in one place. Put brushes in a cover to protect the bristles, keep a guard on a razor, and swap in a shampoo bar or solid soap to cut down on liquids.

Resist the urge to overfill, since a bag straining at its seams presses on lids and zips, and keep make up apart from shampoo so one leak cannot spoil your foundation.

Buying a wash bag as a gift

A wash bag makes a good present because it keeps earning its place long after the wrapping paper has gone, on holiday, at the gym or at home. Among ours, some are a fit for birthdays and a few for Christmas. Some are gifts for her, and a few are for teens or kids. There are flower designs among them too, for anyone who likes a floral touch.

To make it a fuller present, fill it before you wrap it: a favourite hand cream, a lip balm or a bar of soap. A make up bag tucked inside a wash bag is a thoughtful send-off for someone heading on holiday or to university.

Looking after a wash bag between trips

Empty the bag when you get home and tip out any loose powder or hair. If it is wipe clean, a damp cloth with a drop of mild washing-up liquid will do the job. Rinse the cloth and wipe again, dry any metal parts so they stay bright, then leave the bag open until it is completely dry, so no damp gets shut inside.

Cotton needs a lighter touch: dab a mark with a little soapy water rather than scrubbing, and only machine wash a bag if its care instructions allow it. Between trips, keep it somewhere dry and away from a steamy shower.