The Umbrella While Shopping: Supermarket, Stand and Wetness
Anyone who goes shopping in the rain faces practical questions: Where to put the wet umbrella in the shop? Are you allowed to take it into the store? And how do you prevent water from dripping on the floor or soaking your clothes? A thoughtful approach to handling your rain umbrella makes shopping easier and protects both goods and fellow shoppers.
Umbrella Stands at the Entrance: Useful or Risky?
Many supermarkets and shops provide umbrella stands. These holders are practical but carry a risk: mix-ups occur, and high-quality models occasionally disappear. If you own a special umbrella, perhaps with a handcrafted handle or designer canopy, you should keep it with you. Simple walking umbrellas with standard hook handles, on the other hand, can be left in the stand. Check before leaving that you are actually taking your own umbrella.
Closing and Carrying the Umbrella Correctly
Close the umbrella while still under the canopy or in the entrance area, not inside the shop. Shake it vigorously before folding it so that as little water as possible enters the interior. Compact umbrellas can be stored in your handbag or rucksack, but should be kept in a separate compartment or protective cover so that other items remain dry. Walking umbrellas are best carried with the tip pointing downwards on your wrist or placed in the shopping trolley if there is enough space.
Drip Protection for Floor and Goods
Even after thorough shaking, an umbrella continues to drip. Place it in the shopping trolley so that the moisture does not reach food or packaging. Some shops offer thin plastic bags for wet umbrellas. These protect the trolley but are only moderately watertight. Better options are reusable umbrella covers made of coated fabric or nylon that repel water on the outside and absorb moisture on the inside. Such covers are available for compact umbrellas and walking umbrellas, often with a drawstring or press stud.
Compact Models for City Shopping
Anyone who frequently shops spontaneously benefits from a lightweight compact umbrella. Models with three sections and a packed size under 30 centimetres fit into any bag. Look for a weight of no more than 300 grams and a sturdy automatic mechanism that opens with one hand. The canopy should be made of quick-drying polyester, the frame of fibreglass or aluminium. Such Umbrellas can be easily stored after shopping and burden neither arm nor shoulder.
After Shopping: Care at Home
Open the umbrella fully at home and let it dry in an airy place, never in direct sunlight or on the radiator. Hang walking umbrellas by the handle or place them with the tip upwards in a stand. Spread compact umbrellas out flat or hang them open over a rod. Only when the canopy and frame are completely dry should you fold the umbrella again. This prevents mildew, odour and corrosion on the metal parts.
Related: Chantal Thomass, Designer umbrellas, Guy De Jean. The complete range: Umbrellas.
Related categories: Chantal Thomass, Designer umbrellas, Guy De Jean. The full range: Umbrellas.
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