How to Pack a Suitcase: The 53 Ultimate Hacks

Do you want to pack your suitcase like a savvy traveler? Or do you want to ruin all your clothes, and electronics, because you didn’t pack carefully?

Never pack wrong again, or too much, too loose or just plain bad! Follow these 53 ultimate packing hacks on how to pack a suitcase like a pro!

1. Make a packing list, and cross off half of it. We always bring too much stuff.
2. Always pack the heaviest items closest to the wheels of a suitcase, or at the bottom of your backpack, so that the weight is distributed to the bottom and makes it easier to roll or carry.
3. Organize items by packing them in shoes and handbag dusters, that you can use as a laundry bag once enough of your clothes have been worn.
4. Use ziplock bags to store:
   1. your small electronics: phone charger, camera charger, adaptors, headphones
      
   2. your house keys, parking tickets, and car keys
   3. your medication
   4. all other loose accessories.
      
5. Another good packing solution idea is packing cubes – this help separates your different items and access things more quickly in your bag.
6. Fill dead space in your bag by rolling tops, underwear, socks and other small items and stuff them into your shoes to make sure every possible space is filled.
7. Instead of bringing heavy books, get yourself an e-book reader and download the books you want to read instead.
8. And rather than bringing heavy guidebooks, photocopy the essential pages that you will need.
9. Baggage allowance can vary between airlines. Make sure you are aware of your limits before you reach the airport. Some carriers will allow you to check in two bags, but not all, and the weight allowance can also vary. Make sure you understand the hand luggage allowance to avoid costly charges at the gate.
10. Weigh your luggage before you leave for the airport, to avoid paying extra baggage fees. If you’re close to the limit, consider:
    1. wearing some of the heavier items or
    2. cutting down on what you pack in the first place.
11. Don’t assume that buying the most expensive designer suitcase will get you an upgrade – instead, it’s more likely to attract thieves at the airport and on your travels.
12. Get a lightweight suitcase. A hard shell suitcase can add up to four kilos of weight before you’ve even started packing.
13. To protect wine bottles in your luggage, wrap them in pool floaties.

How to pack a suitcase: Security

14. To avoid losing your luggage, label your suitcase carefully with luggage tags and decorate it with ribbons, stickers or even colorful shoelaces to make sure you can spot it in the crowd.
15. Mark your baggage as fragile to ensure that your baggage is handled correctly. Your luggage will be kept at the top because of this, which will make it one of the first bags to be released.
16. Add an outfit of your own to your travel partner’s bag in the event your luggage is lost or delayed.
17. Always keep all your valuables in your hand luggage and always pack a spare change of clothes in your hand luggage too, just in case the worst happens and your checked bag is lost/delayed.
18. To avoid the worst case scenario of being robbed, it’s best to avoid flashing your cash. Instead, hide your money in:
    1. an empty suntan lotion container, if you are on the beach.
    2. an empty lip balm container to hide rolled up notes.
    3. an empty dental floss container. No one will bother to steal that!
19. Also, store your credit cards in RFID blocking card sleeves to make sure you won’t get your information stolen.

How to pack a suitcase: Clothes and shoes

20. Pack at least two tops for every bottom, since you’re more likely to re-wear a pair of bottoms.
21. Pack light colored clothes inside out, to avoid getting them stained.
22. Use a hotel disposable shower cap to cover the base of your shoes, to keep the dirty soles away from your clothes.
23. To save space and stop creasing, roll your clothes instead of folding them.
24. When packing clothes that wrinkle easily, lay the clothing flat inside a dry-cleaning bag, and then roll. The plastic will prevent creases from setting in.
25. Roll delicate dresses between two sheets of white tissue paper to prevent wrinkles.
26. Place your rolled clothes in vacuum compression bags. To use these bags, put your clothes in, seal the bag, then squeeze the air out.
27. Use a belt to line shirt collars to keep them crispy.
28. Help your bras maintain their shape while also saving space by stacking your bras on top of each other, folding them in half, and tucking your underwear inside. Stuffing your underwear inside your bras will prevent the cups from folding inward and help extend the life of your bras beyond your trip.
29. To make sure your clothes always smell fresh, put fabric conditioner sheets or scented drawer liners in your suitcase.
30. Put your jewelry between two sheets of plastic wrap to prevent it from moving around and tangling inside your bag.
    

     

31. String the ends of a dainty necklace through straws to prevent the chain from knotting and tangling.
32. Use pill case compartments or an old lip balm container to organize your smaller jewelry, like rings and earrings.
    
33. Keep track of stud earrings by fastening the set through buttonholes before slipping them into your jewelry bag.
34. Protect your delicates from the rest of the items in your bag by tucking them into the cloth bag that comes with a new pair of shoes, or a wine cloth bag.
35. Fold a shirt and put it inside of a hat to keep it from getting squished.
    

How to pack a suitcase: Toiletries and Jewelry

36. Refill your travel sized toothpaste bottle again, or any other travel sized liquid, instead of buying new ones every time.
37. To prevent your pressed powder or eyeshadow from cracking during your travels, place a flat cotton wool pad in between the pressed powder and the lid.
38. Instead of packing bulky makeup bottles for a short trip, pour a little bit of the product into a clean contact case for easy travel.
39. Coat the ends of a few cotton swabs in your favorite eyeshadow shades, and then put them in a plastic sandwich bag when traveling to save packing space.
40. Toss your makeup brushes or other small beauty products in a slim sunglasses case when traveling so you’ll find them easily.

41. Use a large binder clip to cover the sharp blades of your razor so you don’t accidentally cut your finger when digging around your makeup bag.
42. Use an old medicine bottle to store cotton swabs, sponges, or other disposable makeup applicators.
43. Protect breakables such as glass fragrance bottles by slipping them into socks before packing them, and then stuff them in your shoes for extra protection.
44. Stick your hairpins inside an old Tic Tac or dental floss container to easily keep track of them.
45. To avoid liquid leaks in your luggage, take the lids off liquid bottles and add a layer of cling-film to the neck of the container before replacing the lid. Then use clear tape to seal the gap where the lid joins the container.
46. Put your hair ties on a carabiner to keep them all in one place and easy to grab.

How to pack a suitcase: Electronics and accessories

47. Wrap headphones around a binder clip or with a bag fastener to prevent them from tangling.
48. If you’re heading to a theme park or the beach, put your phone in a plastic bag to prevent it from getting wet.
49. Old sunglass cases can be reused to store chargers or headphones.

50. If you forgot your chargers, use the TV’s USB plugin in your hotel room.
51. A pot holder makes a heat-safe case for your hair straightener.
52. Also, protect your smartphone or tablet by slipping it in a padded envelope.
53. If the back of your plane seat doesn’t have TVs, put your phone in a plastic bag and hook it to the back of the tray table.

Do you have any hacks you discovered on your own?

What’s the best travel hacks you usually use?