Is there a trick to packing clothes so they don't wrinkle?

[Princess_Au]

I sooo don't want to iron clothes on vacation. Please tell me how to fold/pack clothes so they are not a wrinkled mess - thanks!

 

[Princess&JackMom]

I used the strategies from this great book, "The Packing Book." I got it 14 years ago when I was going on a European trip that only allowed for one bage.

One way to avoid wrinkles is to use packing cubes, but the Packing Book outlines (with pictures) a way to layout your clothes were you wrap longer pieces around smaller bundles, thereby avoiding creases that cause wrinkles.

For example, layout a dress, a skirt, etc., and try to have them line up, but alternate which direction they face. Do this with all your big pieces.
Then in the middle of this stack, place your underwear (say in a cube), bathing suits, shorts, pajamas, items that are small or you don't care about wrinkling. Then take turns folding each item over the stack. When you are done your clothes will be in one bundle.

I hope that makes sense. I've been packing this way for years and it has really helped me, especially when I travelled for business.

For Disney, I try to bring smaller pieces (shorts and skirts) that I can just stack or use my cubes so I don't have to worry about wrinkles.

 

[lisaisanurse]

take clothes that dont wrinkle easily, and roll your clothes tightly...i.e. tank tops, shorts.etc..........

 

[Nadjalu]

DH is our packer and he rolls everything. We never have an issue with wrinkles. It also allows you to pack more.

 

[fakereadhed]

Downy wrinkle release!

No matter how carefully I pack it never works. So I just spray what I want to wear the night before, hang it, and it's ready to go in the am. I do this at home too. Haven't touched an iron in a while! You can make your own. Just add 1t of liquid softener in a travel sized spray bottle filled with water.

 

[fi46re129]

roll the clothes use packing cubes from ebags.com (also makes more room in the luggage! LOVE THEM!) hang up the clothes as soon as possible after arrival and bring downy wrinkle release just in case.. also you can hang the clothes in the bathroom for that day during your shower that am.. the steam helps release the wrinkles

 

[aubriee]

I always use packing folders and/or packing cubes. I really prefer the folders to the cubes though. As long as you use the guide that comes with each packing folder, clothes should not wrinkle too much, yet you can still squeeze alot of stuff into one. As long as the velcro touches, it will hold the folders closed. I can pack a week's worth of shorts/capris and tshirts/tanks in one 18" packing folder which easily fits into one side of my 20" Heys carry on. I then use the other side for two slim packing cubes and one small packing cube which hold underclothes and miscellaneous items and still have room left for a couple pairs of flip flops.

 

[Princess_Au]

Thanks for the great ideas everyone. I've never heard of packing cubes. Do they only work in suitcases? What about in a duffle bag?

 

[ancestry]

I always roll my clothes and rarely have any wrinkles. It works great!

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

I always roll my clothes and rarely have any wrinkles. It works great!

I do this too - I always manage to get a lot more in that way too. I never have a problem with wrinkles and the TSA who inspect my carry-on are always impressed with how well everything fits. Roll'em girls! Roll'em!

 

[CathieArms]

I sooo don't want to iron clothes on vacation. Please tell me how to fold/pack clothes so they are not a wrinkled mess - thanks!

I've had really good luck with packing them in large ziplock baggies. For some reason they don't wrinkle if I fold them up nicely and then put them in the large ziplocks with all of the air squeezed out.

 

[tlenzendorf]

I'm a roller as well. Then to save space I shove undies and socks into shoes and squeeze swim suits into any spare crevices.

 

[MomToPirate&Princess]

I'm a roller of clothes too - really works great for t-shirts.

Also for convenience, I roll DS8 and DD6 clothes - shirt & shorts and put them in a gallon size ziplock bag along with socks, underwear (& hair ribbon for DD). They can then grab a bag get dressed and be ready for the day knowing they have a matched outfit.

We then reuse the ziploc bags if we need to carry a damp swimsuit home or anything that might leak or anything with small pieces that might get lost.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

I hang up my stuff when I arrive and spray it with warm water from a water bottle or use Downy Wrinkle Release. I hate to iron...especially on vacation...

 

[cdrn1]

I am chubby and I am envious of thin packers. We fat girls have waaay more fabric to pack. That being said, I am a really, really good packer. I travel a lot, and I rarely wrinkle. The secret? Trash bags.
I lay all my shirts out, flat on my bed, with the largest on the bottom. I then lay out all the rest in order of largest to smallest, on top of the others.
I smooth, and unwrinkle, and smooth...then when they are all as wrinkle free as possible, I lay a clean trash bag on top. Then I wad up a few more bags, and fold everything in over the bags. The bags cushion and provide "slide" and when I get to my destination, I have mostly wrinkle-free clothing. I repeat this process with my pants and shorts. Truly, I hardly ever have wrinkles. I packed for 10 days in Europe in a 20 inch carry on.
I look for fabrics that scrunch without wrinkles. Rayon, rayon-cotton blends. But even the wrinkly stuff stays pretty good using this method.
Hope this makes sense.

 

[wintershawl]

I'm a roller as well. Then to save space I shove undies and socks into shoes and squeeze swim suits into any spare crevices.

I have read so much about rolling. I even googled it and spent time reading about it. I don't get how it works. I wanted to cry... well, almost. Because I sooo want to do it and be cool. But, I haven't figured out what the technique is.

Can anyone please help me?

 

[fi46re129]

Thanks for the great ideas everyone. I've never heard of packing cubes. Do they only work in suitcases? What about in a duffle bag?

The work in anything! here is the link. We usually put socks and under garments in the small one then just throw it in the drawer when we arrive you don't even have to unpack it all from the cubes

http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/packing-cubes-3pc-set/13032?productid=949922

 

[aubriee]

Thanks for the great ideas everyone. I've never heard of packing cubes. Do they only work in suitcases? What about in a duffle bag?

I use my packing folders and packing cubes in both my Heys carryon and also in my big rolling soft duffel that I check. They're great for organizing duffels, as well as hard sided suitcases.

 

[tlenzendorf]

I have read so much about rolling. I even googled it and spent time reading about it. I don't get how it works. I wanted to cry... well, almost. Because I sooo want to do it and be cool. But, I haven't figured out what the technique is.

Can anyone please help me?

Well sure!

For pants, shirts and skirts you fold them in half the long way on the seam. Then I start at the bottom and just roll them up really tight. The goal is to have the folds on the seam and roll straight so there is no wrinkles.

For shirts you can do it 3 different ways. I fold them in half and match the sleeves, lay them along the shirt at the shoulders and then roll from the bottom up. If it leaves a wrinkle it will leave one long one in the middle(easy to get out). You can always not fold it at all and just roll the long way or the short way. Those ways just end up leaving funny shaped rolls that can be difficult to fit in a suitcase if you have a smaller one.

Basically you are aiming to have a tightly round tube with minimal folds. The theory is you have a small, tight item that will fit nicely in your bag and not wrinkle since there is only 1 fold.

I hope that helped!

 

[wintershawl]

Well sure!

For pants, shirts and skirts you fold them in half the long way on the seam. Then I start at the bottom and just roll them up really tight. The goal is to have the folds on the seam and roll straight so there is no wrinkles.

For shirts you can do it 3 different ways. I fold them in half and match the sleeves, lay them along the shirt at the shoulders and then roll from the bottom up. If it leaves a wrinkle it will leave one long one in the middle(easy to get out). You can always not fold it at all and just roll the long way or the short way. Those ways just end up leaving funny shaped rolls that can be difficult to fit in a suitcase if you have a smaller one.

Basically you are aiming to have a tightly round tube with minimal folds. The theory is you have a small, tight item that will fit nicely in your bag and not wrinkle since there is only 1 fold.

I hope that helped!

Yes, I believe this gives me a better idea of how it is done! Thanks.