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Save space and keep your clothes wrinkle-free with these expert packing tips
Got an upcoming trip? It's time to start packing! But before you dive in, you're probably wondering: what's the best way to fold your clothes to maximize space and keep them wrinkle-free? Travelers like you have been pondering this question for ages, and luckily, we have the answers. This article covers some easy techniques for packing clothes efficiently. Read on to discover how rolling clothes can prevent wrinkles, bundling items helps with organization, and how to pack shoes so they don’t dirty your clothes or overstuff your bag.
Key Tips to Remember
- Instead of folding, roll your clothes to minimize wrinkles and save space. Once you arrive at your destination, hang your clothes to avoid creases.
- Bundle your clothing by filling a small pouch with socks. Lay out your clothes flat, place the pouch in the middle, and wrap the items around it to create a compact bundle.
- Wear your heaviest shoes and pack additional heavy pairs at the bottom of your suitcase. Put shoes in separate bags to keep them away from your clothes.
Instructions
How to Roll Clothes
Rolling casual clothing and synthetic fabrics helps minimize wrinkles and maximizes space. This technique works great for casual items such as T-shirts, shorts, underwear, and socks, as well as denim, knits, and synthetic materials like spandex. Rolling is particularly useful for packing duffel bags or backpacks, as it allows you to fit rolled clothes into tight spots with ease.
- Avoid rolling items made from natural fibers like cotton or silk, as these fabrics tend to wrinkle.
- Some people choose to vacuum seal their rolled clothing for even more space-saving, but this can cause excessive wrinkles.
- Keep delicate items such as lingerie and stockings in mesh laundry bags for easy inspection by airport staff without handling the items directly.
- Store rolled pajamas and a few pairs of underwear in a convenient spot at the top of your bag for easy access upon arrival.
Rolling jeans and pants: Lay the pants flat, ensuring the zipper and buttons are secured. Flip the top 4 inches (10 cm) of the pants inside out to create a cuff. Fold each pant leg inward toward the middle, leaving a small gap by the zipper. Roll the pants tightly from the bottom upward and secure the cuff around the roll to prevent it from unrolling.
- This method is also suitable for rolling dress pants.
Rolling T-shirts and blouses: Lay the garment face-up on a flat surface. Fold the bottom 3 inches (7.5 cm) of the garment inside out to form a cuff. Tuck the sleeves in, then roll the garment tightly from top to bottom until you reach the cuff. Fold the cuff over the roll to secure it.
- As you roll, gently press and smooth out any wrinkles by sliding your hands across the fabric.
- Store your rolled T-shirts in a zip-lock bag for easy identification when unpacking and to prevent them from mixing with other clothing items.
Rolling long-sleeve shirts: Lay the shirt face-up, crossing the sleeves over the front in an “X” pattern. Turn the bottom 3 inches (7.5 cm) of the shirt inside out to create a cuff. Fold the shirt into thirds by folding the right side inward, then the left. Flip the shirt upside down and roll it tightly from the collar to the bottom. Secure the cuff around the roll to keep it intact.
- Be sure to button up dress shirts, including the collar and cuff buttons, before rolling.
Rolling skirts: Start by laying your skirt upside down on a flat surface, with the waist facing you. Fold 3 inches (7.5 cm) of the waist fabric inside out to form a cuff. Next, fold the skirt in thirds by bringing the right side inward, then the left. Roll the skirt tightly from the waist to the hem, securing the cuff around the roll to prevent it from unrolling.
- Rolling is most effective for skirts made from synthetic materials like nylon or polyester, as these fabrics resist wrinkles.
Rolling dresses: Lay your dress flat on a large surface. Fold it in half from the bottom upwards, so that the hem is near the neckline. You should now have a shape resembling a large shirt. Fold the bottom 3 inches (7 cm) of the dress up and behind the rest of the fabric. Then, fold the dress into thirds by bringing the right side inward, followed by the left. Roll the dress tightly from top to bottom.
- After folding into thirds, the dress should look like a narrow strip of fabric, making it easy to roll.
- If there's extra fabric at the end, wrap it around the roll to secure the dress in place.
Rolling wrinkle-prone fabrics: Place delicate fabrics like cotton, silk, or linen into plastic dry-cleaning bags. Lay the garment flat, then fold and roll it as usual, but with the added protection of the plastic bag to reduce wrinkles.
- For example, to roll a silk blouse, place it in a plastic dry-cleaning bag, fold the sleeves inward, and gently roll the blouse from top to bottom.
- Roll the plastic bag along with the garment to hold everything in place.
- Be gentle when rolling these fabrics to minimize wrinkles. Some creases may still appear when unpacking.
Creating a Bundle for Packing
Fill a pouch (about 8 inches or 20 cm) with soft items like socks, and set it aside. Choose a pouch that has a pillow-like shape. This pouch will form the central core of your clothes bundle, with shirts, pants, blouses, and other items wrapped around it. Once the pouch is filled, keep it aside for now.
- You can also use the pouch to hold underwear or swimsuits.
- If you don't have a pouch, you can fold a towel or small blanket into a pillow shape that’s about 8 inches (20 cm) wide.
Start by layering your heaviest jackets and long-sleeve shirts on a flat surface. Lay your heaviest jacket or shirt face-down, with the sleeves spread out. Then, place another jacket or long-sleeve shirt on top, facing the opposite direction (right side up and face-up) so that the arms overlap with the arms of the item below. Ensure that only the top third of each item overlaps.
- Alternate the orientation of each new layer as you continue building the pile.
- Always begin with the heaviest items, such as jackets and button-down shirts.
- Save short-sleeve tops for later layers, and T-shirts should be added at the end.
Layer your pants perpendicular to the tops. Arrange the pants so that their top third overlaps with the shirts, while the legs extend outward, resting over the sleeves. Alternate the direction of the pants (left-facing, right-facing, etc.) Start with the heavier pants like jeans and wool trousers, followed by lighter pants like workout gear.
- Once finished, the pile will resemble a “+” shape, with the pants arranged one way and the shirts positioned at a 90-degree angle.
Place sweaters at a 90-degree angle to the pants. Lay the first sweater right-side up on top of the layer of shirts under the pants. Then, place the next sweater upside down, 180 degrees from the first one. Continue alternating between right-side up and upside down with each additional sweater.
- The top third of each sweater should overlap the top third of the one beneath it.
- If you’re not packing sweaters, simply make sure the next layer is perpendicular to the one below it.
Place your T-shirts and shorts at a right angle to the sweaters. Start with your T-shirts, stacking them in an alternating pattern (left-facing, right-facing, etc.), followed by any shorts you plan to pack. Be sure that the top third of each item overlaps the top third of the one beneath it.
- At this stage, your pile may become quite tall. Carefully layer each item to prevent the stack from toppling over.
Place the pouch in the center of the stack and wrap the clothes around it. Start by wrapping the first item (like a T-shirt or shorts) around the pouch, rotating it as necessary to ensure the pouch is completely enveloped. Continue wrapping each piece of clothing, one by one, until you form a large, pillow-shaped bundle.
- Wrap each layer tightly to make the bundle as compact as possible.
- For long-sleeve items like shirts and sweaters, fold the sleeves into an “X” pattern over the bundle’s top.
- The final layer should be your heaviest item, like a jacket or hoodie.
Pack your bundle into a bag or suitcase. Be careful when lifting the bundle to prevent your clothes from sliding out. If needed, squeeze the sides to make it fit and press down on the suitcase’s lid when closing it to ensure it’s secure.
- Although bundling is a space-efficient technique and helps reduce wrinkles, it may take more time to pack.
- Bundling also makes it more difficult for airport security to inspect your bag. If your bag is opened, your bundle could be undone.
Hang your clothes as soon as you arrive to prevent wrinkles from setting in. Leaving your items packed in your suitcase can make wrinkles worse. The earlier you hang them, the better.
- Unpacking your clothes not only helps reduce wrinkles but also makes it easier to find what you need during your trip. No one enjoys rummaging through a suitcase just to find one shirt.
Packing Shoes
Wear your heaviest shoes to save space and weight. Large and heavy shoes occupy a lot of room and add extra weight to your luggage. Instead of packing them, wear them during your flight or road trip.
- Only pack the shoes you'll truly need. Overpacking shoes takes up space and adds unnecessary weight.
- Avoid packing bulky shoes unless they're essential, like for hiking.
Use shoe bags to protect your clothes. Place shoes in plastic or drawstring bags to keep them separate from your clothes. If your shoes might get muddy or wet, such as rain boots or hiking shoes, opt for waterproof bags. Store each pair of dress shoes or heels in their own bag to avoid damage. Then, pack the shoe bags in your suitcase with the rest of your belongings.
- Save space by packing shoes with the tops facing each other, with one shoe turned 180 degrees to fit them together like a yin-yang shape.
- Never pack shoes without bags, especially in the same compartment as your clothes.
Fill your shoes with socks to maximize space in your luggage. If you still have room, consider adding underwear, bathing suits, or similar items. Once your trip is over and if you haven’t had a chance to wash your clothes, you can use your shoes to store dirty items.
- For dress shoes, heels, or costly shoes, avoid stuffing them with socks. Instead, use tissue paper or wooden shoe inserts to preserve their shape.
Place heavier shoes at the bottom of your bag. This helps balance your luggage, making it less likely to topple over when you set it down. For rolling suitcases, position heavy shoes near the wheels to make pulling and maneuvering easier.
- If you’re packing a backpack, place the heavier items like shoes in the center of the bag. This keeps the weight balanced close to your torso, making it more comfortable to carry.
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When checking luggage on a flight, bring a separate carry-on bag with enough clothes for 1-2 days, along with essentials such as medicine, toiletries, and travel documents.
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If your clothes get wrinkled in the bag, you can remove wrinkles without an iron by hanging your clothes in the bathroom and running a hot shower. The steam will help smooth out the wrinkles.
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If you’re traveling with a companion, distribute both of your belongings between the two bags. This ensures that if one bag is lost, you each still have some of your things.
Warnings
- Don’t use rubber bands to keep rolled clothes tightly packed. They can leave marks or creases in your clothing. Opt for plastic bags or packing cubes instead.
- If possible, avoid packing heavy clothing. Layer your clothes to stay warm and wear thermal underwear when traveling to colder areas.
- Be cautious when lifting heavy bags. While rolling and bundling help you pack more efficiently, they can also make your bag heavier.
