Packing for a trip can be incredibly stressful. How do you possibly fit everything you need into a tiny carry-on suitcase?
Or worse, you get to your destination only to discover everything is wrinkled and a mess. Don’t stress, keep reading to learn the best way to pack clothes, and packing will become a breeze in no time.
The Best Way To Pack Clothes
When it comes to packing your clothes, there are a few things to keep in mind. You’ll want to make sure you bring everything you need for your trip while limiting items you’ll probably never use. These tips should help you make sure you have everything you need, nothing you don’t and that your clothes all arrive at your destination in good shape.
Think Big, Then Eliminate
The first thing you’ll want to do is put all of your items together that you think you might need for your trip. You’ll want to put half of those items away. Focus on clothes that are in the same color family so you can easily mix and match.
You will also want to pack more tops than bottoms. For example, if you are going on let’s say a five-day trip, you’ll want to bring five shirts, two pairs of pants or jeans, and one skirt. You can easily fit all of this in a 22-inch carry-on bag, which is built to fit two pairs of jeans, three sweaters, two dresses, and five shirts.
Pack Wrinkle-Resistant Fabrics
This tip might help you eliminate what you don’t need. Whenever possible, you’ll want to go with knits, wools, and cotton, as these fabrics tend to be wrinkle resistant. You also might find that some of these wrinkle-resistant clothing items can do double duty, like how yoga pants can also be pajama bottoms.
Roll and Fold
You might be wondering if you should fold or roll your clothes when really you should do both. You’ll want to roll softer items while folding stiffer items.
You should roll up items like T-shirts, jeans, knitwear, cotton pants and underwear, which won’t wrinkle if rolled tightly. While stiffer items like dressy pants, blazers, skirts, and cotton pants should be carefully folded.
Thoughtfully Arrange Clothing
The order that you put your clothes into your suitcase does matter. You’ll want to put your softer rolled items at the bottom of your suitcase, followed by your folded garments. Your middle layer should include long items like nice pants and skits.
You’ll want to stack your garments on top of each other with the waists and hems alternating. Then you’ll want to lay these items lengthwise, draping leftover fabric over the opposite end. This way you save space by not having thick waistbands on top of each other.
Next, you’ll want to wrap and drape ends towards the center. Then you should lay the collars of shorter items like shirts, at the hinge with ends over the handles. Now fold the collars ends over once while folding the arms in.
Lastly, you’ll want to snake belts around the perimeter of the bag taking up as little room as possible. Then add another layer for snugness around these three layers.
You’ll want to arrange your clothes in a similar way for long term storage as well.
Put Clothes You’ll Need First on the Top
Whatever you think you will need to grab first when you reach your destination should be at the top of your suitcase. Maybe this is a dress, bathing suit, or pajamas. This could depend on when you arrive at your destination and what your plan is.
Cover Up Your Packed Pile with a Dry Cleaning Bag
Since your dry-cleaning bag has a slippery surface, this helps your folded clothes from creasing by sitting in the same space. So put dry-cleaning bags between each layer of your clothing. Then pull the bag’s ends up on either side.
How to Pack Shoes
Now that your clothes are in place, it’s time to pack all of the other things like shoes. These tips should help you get everything in.
Follow Rule of Three
You don’t want to bring your entire shoe closet, instead focus on three types of shoes. Maybe this is one casual sandal or loafer, sneakers, and an evening shoe. Keep in mind that the high heel’s shape takes up the most space in a suitcase. You’ll also want to wear your bulkiest pair of shoes and pack the other two.
Put Your Pairs of Shoes to Work
This, of course, depends on how clean your shoes are, but you can stuff your shoes with items like sunglasses, socks, or electric chargers. This will help you save room and space.
Put Shoes in a One-Gallon-Size Resealable Bags
Put your shoes in a gallon-sized reusable bags, and place your shoes along the sides of your suitcase. This prevents dirt from dirty shoes from getting your clean clothes.
How to Pack Toiletries and Beauty Products
Now it’s time to pack all the toiletries, beauty products, and other odds and ends. Here’s how to fit it all in.
Try Travel-Size Multitaskers
You can minimize the number of beauty products you need by going with multitaskers. Such as a tinted moisturizer that’s also a foundation, or two in one shampoo and conditioner. Make sure you check liquid size regulations if you’re traveling with a carry-on.
Use Empty Bottles To Store Your Favorite Products
You can get a four-inch by four-inch kit with eight clear travel size bottles. Use those bottles to fill up with lotions, beauty products, and or contact lens solutions.
But don’t fill those bottles up to the top, because the storage on planes isn’t pressurized. This means your items that are filled to the top will overflow and explode onto your clothes.
Group Similar Products In Sealed Resealable Bags
You’ll want to use one bag for all your cosmetics, another for hair products, and another for skin products. Then tuck these bags in the corners of your suitcase or in a zippered outside pocket.
Get Packing!
Now that you know the best way to pack clothes, it’s time to get packing. Remember, less is more, stick to the basics, and minimize what you’re bringing whenever possible. For more lifestyle tips, check out our blog.