The ultimate guide to packing a suitcase

SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 22:10

Not only is it a tedious task, but it can be stressful when you don’t know what you are doing. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to somehow, miraculously, pack only exactly what we might need—no more, no less—and keep things wrinkle-free in the process.

Here are some helpful tips for filling your suitcase efficiently and keeping your clothing in tip-top shape while en route. The Best Ways to Pack Your Clothes:

Think Big, Then Smaller

Gather all the garments you anticipate needing—then put half of them back.

Select clothes in the same color family. Pack more tops than bottoms. For a five-day trip, you’ll probably need no more than five shirts, two pairs of slacks or jeans, and one other. The average 22-inch carry-on bag fits roughly two pairs of jeans, three sweaters and five shirts with a little bit of extra room.

Pack Wrinkle-Resistant Fabrics

If you can, choose knits, wools, and cottons because these fabrics tend to resist wrinkles.

Roll and Fold Items

Using a bit of each packing technique is the most efficient way to get things into your suitcase.

Roll softer garments and fold stiffer ones. Underwear, T-shirts, jeans, cotton pants, and knitwear won’t wrinkle when rolled tightly. Stiffer fabrics, such as starched cotton shirts, blazers and certain pants should be carefully folded.

Arrange Clothing Thoughtfully

Place your softer, rolled items at the bottom of your suitcase first. Next comes your folded garments: For your middle layer, start with the longest items, like nice pants. Finally, snake belts around the perimeter of the bag so they take up as little room as possible.

Cover the Pile With a Dry-Cleaning Bag

Because of the dry-cleaning bag’s slippery surface, folded clothes don’t stay in one place long enough for creases to set. Easy upgrade: Place a bag between each layer of clothing.

To get to a certain layer easily, simply pull the ends of the bag up on either side.

Place Clothes You’ll Need First at the Top

This could be anything from a dress to a bathing suit to pajamas, depending on where you're going, what time you arrive, and what the plan is when you get there.

It's a shoo-in

Have Your Shoes Do Some Work

Depending on how clean your shoes are, stuff them with other items like socks, sunglasses, and electronics chargers. This will end up saving you a bit of space.

Place Shoes Into One-Gallon-Size Resealable Bags

Then set them along the sides of the bag, says Gilford.

This will keep dirt and germs from your shoes from getting onto your packed clean clothes.

Use Clothing as Padding for Breakables

Wrap fragile items in thick, sturdy clothing. Place them in the center of your bag surrounded by a buffer. If you’re carting liquor bottles, secure them in the bottom center of your bag.