How do you Pack an Orginized Suitcase??

[ThreeMusketeers]

Every vacation we have ever gone on..I spend more time looking through the suitcase for whatever it is I need and it drives me crazy!! How do ya'll orginize your luggage??

Thanks.

 

[dyna]

1. Buy a shoe bag at the Everything a dollar store or that type of store hang it on bathroom door or in the closet area for shampoo and personal items.

2.Ziplock bags for clothing you can buy a 2 gallon bag for adult sized clothes but mine fit in gallon size if I'm careful. Put complete outfit and maybe hair thingy in bag including socks and undies.

3. Laundry bag in corner for dirty laundry.

4. Everyone gets their own bag suitcase whatever hopefully sized for them. Meaning a preschooler doesn't need a HUGE dufflebag for their clothes but an adult might.

It also helps if the bags are different colors and everyone has their own color that they use every trip. Matching luggage looks nice but also adds to the confustion I would at least mark each bag so I know whos it is at a glance.

 

[vatmark]

dyna...those are some good tips.

I was wondering if anyone knew where to buy a big toiletry bag that hangs and has slots that holds full size bottles and also big enough to hold a hairdryer and what not. We use a tote type suitcase and the stuff is just thrown in there and you are constantly digging to get things out. It drives me nuts.

Annie

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

dyna...those are some good tips.

I was wondering if anyone knew where to buy a big toiletry bag that hangs and has slots that holds full size bottles and also big enough to hold a hairdryer and what not. We use a tote type suitcase and the stuff is just thrown in there and you are constantly digging to get things out. It drives me nuts.

Annie

I bought one today LL Bean online. They have small, medium and large ones. I think they even had extra large. Really neat, and not too expensive.

 

[vatmark]

Thanks I will check those out.

Annie

 

[dyna]

The cheap over the door shoebag holds full sized bottles of shampoo got mine several years ago for a dollar at the EVERYTHING A DOLLAR STORE.

Not sure about it holding a hair dryer tho.

BTW thanks tellin me my tips was good

 

[vatmark]

Dyna...with the shoebag...are you able to transport all the toiletries in it or do you have to bring the toiletries in another bag and then organize them in the shoe bag when you get there?

I wrote down all of your tips. The tip about putting outfits for each day in ziplocks with hairbands and what not is great. I will definitely be doing that. I had always put outfits together in the suitcase but never put them in ziplocks. It will make things so much easier to just grab a ziplock bag and not have to search for socks. Also the tip about color coding the suitcases...Great! My suitcase and my husbands suitcase are identical and my DS and DD suitcases are identical to each other as well. I always had to open one to see who's was who's to get something out and usually it was the wrong one. Now I will just color code them each with their favorite color and I'll know who's is who's.

And I might just be doing that shoe bag deal as well. The more and more I think about it the more and more it sounds good to keep all that clutter off the counter and be able to have things more visable then digging into a tote bag.

Annie

 

[dyna]

Vatmark Sorry no you can't haul the stuff in the shoebag. I use a combo of ziplocks for things that might spill then to make it double safe use a plastic shopping bag till I get to the resort and when I unpack then I hang the shoebag and load it up doesn't take long at all.

I love the shoebag in fact I need to make one out of a towel for at home and hang it on the wall behind bathroom door. By making it out of a bath towel and using wash cloths for pockets it would be washable.

 

[adisneymama]

I do most of the tips mentioned here, but also wanted to add that for those things that just won't go in a ziplock or you really don't want to chance getting wrinkled save your plastic bags from the dry cleaners. DH had to fly to Tx for a job interview and had to change into his business suit as soon as he got to the hotel. I laid the suit flat and only folded the arms over and folded the pants at the knees. Then I put the suit inside the dry cleaner bag and used the straps inside the suitcase to keep everything from sliding around. Worked great, no wrinkles when he got there and everything was right there for him to throw on!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

If you wrap clothes in tissue paper, they almost never wrinkle (this holds true for linen too!)

 

[faindrops27]

Dyna,

My goodness you are pretty amazing. I never would have thought of that towel organizer. Wow!! How brilliant. Ok, let me ask you all something. I am trying to figure out if my clothes will fit into ziploc bags. Since I am poohish sized. Does anyone know? And I have three kids, dd1, ds3, ds11. We are going in Oct for 10 days. I am thinking now. I should even put in the diaper, socks, clothes, hair ties, etc for baby. Does anyone know where to buy the 2 gallen ziploc bags? Next time I am off. I am going to get busy on packing.

 

[cepmom]

I found 2 gallon ziploc bags at Walmart....used them last month for a short tripto the beach and it was great for the kid's clothes. DH was with them for the first couple of days while I was working so it was easy for the girls to pick a bag and get themselves dressed into coordinated outfits. You should see the outfits they pick for themselves when DH is there to supervise !

 

[mjh8955]

All of the stuff I need for the hotel room (or condo) I put in a clear zippered case that small blankets or sheet sets come in. It has a rectangular bottom so it doesn't fall over, like ziplocks do. Ours contains (edit per your own needs): Tide stain stick, tiny bottle of dishwashing detergent, tiny bottle of Woolite, small "pellets" of dishwashing detergent, "pellets" of laundry detergent and dryer sheets, night light, some large garbage bags and a variety of sizes of ziplock bags, 4 clothespins (with each of our names on them) to hold up wet stuff, extra packets of spray and wash and wet ones, old throw-away kitchen towels and a dish rag which I use to just clean up after my family because I hate yucky sinks and counters, Lysol wipes and a small can of air freshener. Another small bag holds all first-aid and medical stuff; another one will hold everything I take to the parks. Sunscreens go in a ziplcok on their own in case anything leaks. Pool stuff is always in the outside pockets so people can get their suits on right away if a trip to the pool is required first thing. I also use a detailed list that shows what exactly is in each bag (kid's backpacks, my purse, our carry-on and the regular suitcases). That way we all know where everything is, and if (God forbid) a bag ever gets lost, I can list what was in it pretty quickly. While putting each outfit in a baggie is a terrific way to be organized, it takes up a lot of extra space. We do like the Navy does and roll things up. I do not take my regular purse or wallet but repack ONLY the essentials into a small backpack. I do not carry my library card or keys, etc. Only one back-up key to the car in case hubby loses his. I take only one credit card and I leave the checkbook home. I have been accused of enjoying the preparation and packing more than the trip

 

[montblanc]

I bought one of those great (and guaranteed for life) Briggs and Riley large wheeled upright luggage pieces. It has so many compartments that segregating my stuff was simple. One section for toiletries, one for clothes on hangers, big open section for clothes, other section for tech stuff (batteries, cables etc.) and one for books (I read a lot). Finding stuff was a snap...

 

[Duet]

We used the over the door shoe organizer for all toiletries and it worked great. I totally unpack everything once we arrive (didn't take long at all) so finding things wasn't an issue. All clothes are packed in sets and then put in the dresser drawers in sets - very easy to grab and go in the morning. We also packed some cheap plastic hangers (12 for $.88) and hung all adult shirts and dresses to help prevent wrinkles. The hangers were left there when we checked out. At the end of the day the dirty clothes were put into the empty suitcases.

Happy packing!

 

[JerJan]

For virtually "WRINKLE FREE" clothes, I place the total outfit including under garments and socks flat on the bed, then I roll them tightly and secure with a rubber band on two. When unrolled you have everything you nedd and no hassels! My DD13 just returned from a 3 week trip to Australia ane the group that she went with actually uses this as their preferred method for packing.

 

[disgram]

Just found 2.5 gallon Hefty Ziplock bags at the grocery store!! 2 for $5.00! there are 12 to a box. These are huge!! will be able to put each day's clothes in one. We are 3 and so there are just enough for us.. I will be using the gallon size for liquids and for meds. Gotta Love ZIPLOCK!!

 

[disgram]

forgot,,,the large Ziploc bags will be good to bring dirty clothes home and not mess up the suitcase and souviners that we plan on bringing home!!

 

[lamb1022]

The tip about putting outfits for each day in ziplocks with hairbands and what not is great. I will definitely be doing that. I had always put outfits together in the suitcase but never put them in ziplocks. It will make things so much easier to just grab a ziplock bag and not have to search for socks.

Duh! I thought of myself as a seasoned packer and traveler - NOT! What a great idea! thanks!!!

 

[justplaingoofy]

Usually with kids (I guess you could do it for adults?) when packing, put an outfit together complete w/socks, underwear, etc. and put it in a ziplock 1 or 2 gall. bag. (the kind without the zipper work better). Then when the kids (or you) get dressed they can pick which bag they want that day. Kou know they will match.