Tip 1: Fix a Smelly Suitcase

You left some funky sneakers in your suitcase, and now it smells bad. Get rid of a
bad suitcase smell with some dryer sheets: throw some in your suitcase and leave it
overnight, and the smell will be gone by tomorrow. Dryer sheets are also great for
packing with your luggage to keep your clothes fresh while you’re on the go.
Tip 2: Make Packing for Kids Easier

If you’re traveling with young kids, make it easier to get ready each morning while
you’re away. When packing their clothes, pack full outfits, and place each one in a
big Ziploc bag (with any hair or other accessories)—plus an extra or two for spills
and emergencies. Each morning, your child can pick out one Ziploc full of clothes
to wear that day. That way, you won’t have to spend as much time making sure they
look presentable!
Tip 3: Roadtrip Tip

If you’re traveling by car and will be spending a single night at a hotel, consider
packing a separate bag for this night only. Have everyone in your family add their
items to that bag, and it will be the only one you’ll have to pull out of the car
on your lay-over.
Tip 4: Plan for Lost Luggage

If you are checking your bags, put at least one outfit in the suitcase of your
spouse (or other travel buddy). If your suitcase gets lost, you’ll have at least a
few clothes to tide you over until it’s found.
Tip 5: Keep Necklaces from Getting Tangled

Make sure your delicate necklaces and bracelets don’t get tangled while you’re
traveling—keep them safe with some plastic straws. Cut a straw in half, thread your
necklace through, and fasten the clasp. The straw will keep the chain straight and
untangled.
Tip 6: Pill Container as Earring Holder

Repurpose a plastic daily vitamin/pill container into a earring container that’s

perfect for trips. Earrings and sometimes even rings fit perfectly inside, and it
will make sure you’re accessorized for each day you’re away!
Tip 7: Another Easy Fix for Packing Jewelry

Packing for a trip? Keep your sensitive jewelry safe and tangle-free by taping it
to some bubble wrap. Then roll the wrap up and pack safely in your suitcase.
Tip 8: Pack Alike

These days, when we pack, it’s all about shoving everything we need into a carry-on
to save on checked bag fees. One rule we live by to make it work? Pack clothes that
are in the same color family, and pants that can go with a lot of different shirts.
You can more easily mix and match them, so you’ll have to pack less. This trick
will also come in handy when you spill something on yourself—if your blue shirt
soiled, you still have another in your suitcase.
Tip 9: Send Presents Ahead

Visiting family? Especially when you have to pack tons of presents, it’s usually
more frugal to pay to ship the contents of your suitcase to your destination ahead
of time. Most airlines charge between $15 and $30 for the first checked bag and
much more for the second, while it only costs around $14 to mail up to 70 pounds
via the post office.
Tip 10: Packing Pants So They Don’t Wrinkle

When packing for vacation, place your pants in the bottom of the suitcase, with
half of them hanging over the side. Place the rest of your clothes on top, then
fold the pants back over on top of the clothes. When you unpack, your pants won’t
need to be pressed.