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Four signs you have a packing problem
Stuffed suitcase? Easy, effective solutions for common packing troubles
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Packing for your weekend getaway June 16: Allyson Waterman from Lucky magazine shares some quick tips for packing an overnight bag. Today show |
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Have you ever paid an excess baggage fee, left your passport at home or cleaned up a messy shampoo spill in your suitcase? If you've encountered any of these packing crises, chances are your suitcase-stuffing strategy could use a little work.
To help your trip preparation go more smoothly, we've pinpointed the warning signs of four common packing problems and identified a few easy, effective solutions for each. Got your own packing tips to share? Post them on our message boards!
Warning sign No. 1: A wrinkled wardrobe
Who wants to waste time slaving over a steaming iron at your hotel when you could be out exploring a new destination? Occasional wrinkles are an occupational hazard of traveling, but if your clothes come out of your suitcase looking like they've spent weeks in the back corner of your closet, it may be time to reevaluate your packing strategy.
Top tips:
Stick to wrinkle-free clothing rather than ordinary cottons and linens, which are prone to creases. You can get wrinkle-free garments from travel suppliers such as Magellan's and TravelSmith.
Before your trip, lay your clothes out ahead of time to make sure you have everything you need — but don't actually put them into your bag until shortly before you're ready to depart. That way you'll minimize the time they spend scrunched up in your suitcase. On the other end of your trip, be sure to hang up your clothes as soon as you arrive in your hotel. (If they're looking a little rumpled, hang them in the bathroom while you take a shower — the hot, moist air will relax away most minor wrinkles.)
When you go to lay your clothes in your suitcase, don't simply fold and crease each garment individually — that's a recipe for wrinkles. Experienced travelers use a variety of packing methods, including rolling (which works particularly well in backpacks or duffel bags) and interlocking (folding multiple garments together so that they help cushion each other against wrinkles). Other travelers swear by tissue paper or plastic as a buffer between layers of clothing. Read more about these methods in Packing tips and Packing tips from our readers.
Warning sign No. 2: Damaged goods
Simple packing tips to help your family save big and cut greenhouse-gas emissions on your next flight.
There's nothing worse than arriving home only to find that the gorgeous blown-glass vase you bought in Murano has been reduced to a pile of colorful shards in the bottom of your suitcase. Travelers who've suffered the loss of a favorite souvenir or had clothes ruined by a messy spill may need a few lessons in packing with extra care.
Top tips:
It may seem obvious, but it bears repeating: never put breakable items into your checked luggage. Instead, wrap the items carefully in newspaper, bubble wrap and/or clothing and stow them in your carry-on bag. Smaller items can be slipped inside a shoe and cushioned with a balled-up pair of socks.
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If you're buying a fragile item that's too big to fit into your carry-on, have the merchant ship it home for you. Stores that frequently handle tourist purchases are pros at packing their goods for shipping — and you'll often be able to insure your item and receive compensation if it's damaged en route.
Anything with leak potential — shampoo, sunblock, toothpaste, perfume, you name it — should be sealed tightly and packed in a zip-top plastic bag to keep spills contained. (We knew those TSA liquid and gel rules would come in handy for something!) See our story on the five worst packing problems for more tips on coping with spills.
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