I don't understand why, but I always find packing more troublesome than it should be. Packing can be a hassle in and of itself, but many people's anxiety about the process comes from the fact that they have no idea what they'll need at their destination. I mean, what if it rains the whole time? In case your bags go missing, what will you do? What if, in the end, you only accomplish a quarter of what you planned? We expect a lot from ourselves, like being able to miraculously pack everything we might need without having to leave anything behind and without anything getting wrinkled.
Here are some tried-and-true methods for packing light while protecting your clothes from wrinkles on the road.
Best Way to Pack Your Clothes in the Suitcase
Consider Big, Then Clarify
Amass all the clothes you think you might need, and then return half of them. Choose pieces with the same tonal palette, and bring more tops than bottoms. You should pack at least five tops, two pairs of trousers, and one skirt for a five-day trip. Two pairs of jeans, three sweaters, two dresses, and five shirts can fit into a standard carry-on bag measuring 22 inches in height.
Remember your wrinkle-free clothes!
Knits, wools, and cotton are great options because they are easy to care for and style with various outfits (some garments can do double duty, like yoga pants that moonlight as pajamas).
Try to Roll and Fold Items
Different packing strategies are the best way to get everything into your suitcase. Fold stiffer garments and roll softer ones. To avoid wrinkles when packing, roll your underwear, T-shirts, jeans, cotton pants, and knitwear tightly. Carefully fold the items made of stiffer fabrics, such as starched cotton shirts, blazers, dress pants, and skirts.
Organize Clothes
Start packing your suitcase with the softer, rolled items at the bottom. Finally, you're neatly folded laundry: Start with the most extended pieces, like skirts and nice pants, for your middle layer. The garments should be stacked with the waists on the bottom and the hems on the top. Stagger them down the length of your suitcase and drape the excess material over the opposite end. (This helps with storage because bulky waistbands won't be stacked on top of one another.) Pull the hanging stops of the pile in toward the middle.
Then, place the ends of the handles over the hinge and lay the collars of shorter items, like shirts, on the hinge. Wrap the ends and collars around once, and tuck the sleeves in. Finally, space-saving snake belts wrap around the bag's exterior (and add another layer of snugness around these three layers).
Put a dry-cleaning bag over the heap.
The dry cleaning bag's smooth exterior prevents the folded garments from staying put long enough to set any creases. Adding a load between your attire is a simple upgrade to your look. Lift the top or bottom of the bag to access the desired layer.
Put first-need clothes on top.
Depending on where you're going, when you'll be getting there, and what the plan is once you get there, this could be anything from a dress to a swimsuit to pajamas.
How to Pack Shoes in the Suitcase
Just remember the "Rule of Three."
You should have at least one pair of casual shoes, like sandals or loafers, a couple of athletic shoes, and a pair of dress shoes. With their various shapes and high heels, shoes tend to be the most space-hogging items. Put on the bulkiest team and leave the other two in your bag.
Use Your Shoes
Stuff your clean shoes with socks, sunglasses, and chargers for your electronic devices. In the end, this will free up some space here and there.
Put Shoes in the Large Ziploc Bags.
Place them along the outer edges of the tote. Putting shoes in a bag will prevent the mud and germs from your shoes from getting on your clean clothes.
How to Pack Toiletries and Beauty Products in the Suitcase
Travel-size multitaskers
Select a tinted moisturizer that also acts as a foundation, a soap that doubles as a shampoo, and cleansing wipes. Put Your Favorite Brands Into the Empty Bottles (But Not to the Top)
Group similar items in resealable bags
Make sure to separate your beauty products, hair care items, and skin care items into their separate totes. You can put the bags in your suitcase's side pockets or a zippered exterior pocket.
How to Pack Jewelry in the Suitcase
Store cheap items in a plastic pillbox
You can also use a tissue-lined container for 35mm film to keep them safe. If you absolutely must bring valuables, wearing them will significantly reduce the chances of them being lost or stolen.
How to Pack Fragile or Breakable Objects
Use clothes as padding.
To protect your fragile items, dress them in heavy, rugged clothing. Put them in the heart of your bag and pad the edges with other things—Stow Liquor bottles in the bag's bottom middle compartment.
How to Pack Dirty Laundry in the Suitcase
Shrink them
Pack your clothes into several Eagle Creek packing cubes or bags. When you zip them, they compress by about 80%. This may cause wrinkles, so if the clothes don't need to be washed just yet, it's best to lay them flat with fabric softener sheets. Think of your clean laundry as a homecoming gift.
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