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
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
- Roll and Fold Items
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
- Cover the Pile With a Dry-Cleaning Bag
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
It's a shoo-in
- Have Your Shoes Do Some Work
- Place Shoes Into One-Gallon-Size Resealable Bags
This will keep dirt and germs from your shoes from getting onto your packed clean clothes.
- Use Clothing as Padding for Breakables