Get prepared with these helpful suitcase packing hacks and keep your suitcase in shipshape for the whole trip! Read on to learn more.
Overview:
- Plan your outfits before you go
- Invest in some packing cubes
- Zip lock bags are your best friend
- Roll your clothes
- Don’t put heavy items on the top
- Be prepared for dirty clothes
- Invest in a good toiletries bag
- Pack things inside other things
- Use straws and old mint tins for jewellery
- Protect wine bottles with toilet paper
- Untangle those cables
- Pack twice
- Weigh your suitcase
13 suitcase packing hacks
1. Plan your outfits before you go
Why is it that when you go on holiday you suddenly think you need 5 outfits for every day of the week? Just in case you spill something, or it’s really hot. In reality, when would you ever make that many outfit changes at home? Never! Cut down on your clothing by planning out your outfits. No one’s going to care if your outfit repeats whilst you’re overseas! Also, make sure you have items that mix and match well and that you can layer up if it gets cold. Pack what you will really wear, not what you think you’ll wear.
2. Invest in some packing cubes
Packing cubes will fundamentally change the way you travel. They help to keep everything in its specific place and stop your things from getting tossed around in your bag during transit. You can pick some up pretty cheap on Amazon or eBay and they really will change the way you pack forever. Trust us, your suitcase will love you for it.
3. Zip lock bags are your best friend
We’ve all been there at least once during our travels when one of our trusty shampoo and conditioner bottles or face wash leaks through our toiletries bag into our suitcase. It’s never fun to deal with and always puts a bit of a dampener on your travels. That’s where your new best friend comes in handy! Say hello to zip lock bags, here to save your toiletries bag from any future leaks.
The best part, a range of companies now sell environmentally friendly and reusable zip lock bags so you can be leak free without single-use plastic waste!
4. Roll your clothes
If packing cubes aren’t your thing, rolling your clothes is the way to go. This packing hack for clothes easily compresses everything and allows you to stack your clothes more compactly compared to plain, old folding. By rolling them tightly, it keeps the clothes taut, meaning there should be less wrinkles.
credit: aymilee, Flickr / CC (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
5. Don't put heavy items on the top
This sounds like a logical one, but so often when packing you just throw everything into the suitcase while it’s lying down and don’t really think about what happens when you stand it up. Putting heavy things like toiletries and shoes near the wheels prevents them from squishing everything else down when you stand up the suitcase. This might help to keep everything in place, and can also help with preventing wrinkles in your clothes
6. Be prepared for dirty clothes
To prepare for dirty clothes, always keep a collapsible laundry bag or other soft bag in your suitcase that you can start filling up as things get dirty. Not only will this make it easier to know what’s clean and what’s dirty, but it will also keep the rest of your clothes fresh. It’s also useful to keep an extra plastic or waterproof bag in case you ever have to pack wet swimwear.
7. Invest in a good toiletries bag
Is there anything worse than opening up your suitcase to find that your toothpaste, shampoo, and moisturiser have exploded all over your clothes? Investing in a waterproof toiletries bag not only prevents this, but also keeps you much more organised and saves so much time when getting ready in the morning. There are many options to choose from, but our personal favourite is a roll up style bag which offers plenty of compartments for all your different products, and gives easy access to all of them.
If there’s any items you’re particularly worried about exploding, remove the lid and put either sticky tape, or some cling wrap and a rubber band over the opening, before replacing the lid. This will prevent any accidental explosions while in transit.
Source - pxhere / CC0 1.0 (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
8. Pack things inside other things
For any of your bulky or awkwardly-shaped items, like hats and shoes, fill them with other items to help it keep its shape. To really maximise your space, you can even pack breakable items like perfumes inside socks, and then stuff the socks inside a shoe. If you’ve got dirty shoes, you could even store them inside a hotel shower cap to prevent the rest of your suitcase from getting dirty.
9. Use straws and old mint tins for jewellery
How annoying is it when you go to put on your favourite necklace after packing it in your suitcase and it’s tied in millions of knots? Not only is untangling it a waste of time, it’s also super frustrating! Instead, simply thread one end of the necklace through a straw and then clasp it at the other end. It keeps the necklace rigid and will prevent those pesky knots.
If you’ve got lots of little jewellery items like rings and earrings, you can store them inside an old mint tin. Throw in a cotton ball to prevent everything from moving around, and it will all be securely stored. If you’ve got too much to fit in a mint tin, try an old soap container or glasses case instead.
10. Protect wine bottles with toilet paper
If you’re planning to bring back some wine with you, our top tip is to take a roll of the hotel’s toilet paper and slide it over the neck of the bottle. This protects the delicate neck area, and you can then wrap the rest of the bottle with some items of soft clothing to protect it during transit.
11. Untangle those cables
It’s easy to get caught up with an abundance of cables when packing your tech for your travels. You want to take your phone to stay connected with people back home, your camera to capture amazing photographs of your experiences, your headphones, and maybe even a tablet or smartwatch. For those of you who like DIY projects, Velcro does wonders for tangle-free cables! Otherwise, there is an abundance of different cable bags out on the market that help to keep your cables and other gadgets organised.
12. Pack twice
This one might sound strange to some, but for the over-packers in the world, it’s essential! Leading up to your travels, get all the clothes that you want to take and lay them out in your suitcase. Come back a day or two later and re-pack them, using packing cubes. Be ruthless and don’t pack anything you’re second guessing. This way you’ll come equipped with a perfectly packed, lightweight suitcase!
13. Weigh your suitcase
What would the point of all this organising be if your suitcase ends up being overweight? Bring along a portable luggage scale to ensure you’re on top of how much your suitcase weighs. This means less time stressing and more time shopping for souvenirs to bring home.
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Get prepared for your next tour with Bunnik
So there you have it, our top 13 suitcase packing hacks to have an organised suitcase! Now, there’s just one last question – where are you going this year? Join us on a small group tour and be the envy of your group with your organised suitcase! Browse our tours online or contact one of our friendly Travel Specialists today.
Suitcase packing hacks: FAQs
What is the 1,2,3,4,5,6 rule?
This is an easy way to avoid overpacking. The rule says to pack one hat, two pairs of shoes, three bottoms, four tops, five pairs of socks, and six pairs of underwear.
How do you pack a suitcase to fit a lot?
If you’re going on a long trip and can’t bear to leave some things behind, the best way to optimise space in your luggage is by tightly rolling up your clothes. Place your heavier items like jeans and shoes at the bottom, this way it's easier to close your suitcase.
What are the don'ts of packing well?
To avoid a messy and overpacked suitcase there are some easy tips to follow (aside from the travel packing hacks for international travel above):
- Avoid throwing things into your suitcase. Instead, write a packing list down and plan your outfits beforehand.
- Don’t overpack. Only pack the things you really need by following the 1,2,3,4,5,6 packing rule.
- Don’t leave packing until the last minute, this will create unnecessary stress and more than likely an over packed bag.
- Avoid taking expensive jewellery as it’s not worth the risk of it being stolen
- Avoid packing fabrics that crease easily, such as linen.
