Packing Clothes. Any luck with rolling?

[DawnCt1]

DS #1 has been working 12 hours a day almost every day and we are leaving for Hawaii on Tues. I offerred to wash, iron and pack his suitcase. It's a 22 inch expandable. He has a lot of clothes he wants to bring and he wears a lot of button up type shirts. I can fit everything if I roll the shorts and two long sleeved shirts. I have the shirts (5) layered on a hanger and folded in on themselves. The tee shirts and the two polo shirts are just folded neatly. How successful has anyone been with rolling in terms of wrinkles?

 

[palmtreegirl]

I've rolled in the past and it worked, just make sure you roll them really tight.

 

[Kteacher]

I roll everything I can when I pack. I was once able to fit everything I needed for a 4 night cruise in a carry-on ( including an evening gown! ) by rolling everything. Like the above poster said- make sure you roll everything tightly- no wrinkles have fun in Hawaii

 

[powellrj]

I have never rolled, but we use Ziploc bags. I was shocked the first time we packed this way how much we could pack in a bag. We just get the 2 or 2.5 gallon bags (I forget how big they are) and pack an outfit in a bag. I have the kids sit on the bag and then I zip it shut. It takes all the air out so its really flat. When you open the bag its not wrinkled, which really surprised me.

 

[DawnCt1]

I have never rolled, but we use Ziploc bags. I was shocked the first time we packed this way how much we could pack in a bag. We just get the 2 or 2.5 gallon bags (I forget how big they are) and pack an outfit in a bag. I have the kids sit on the bag and then I zip it shut. It takes all the air out so its really flat. When you open the bag its not wrinkled, which really surprised me.

That's how I used to pack when the kids were little. Back then the biggest size bag was one gallon. It was so easy in the mornings. Just toss them a bag with all of their stuff. Now I don't think I could get a pair of those cargo shorts in a bag.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I usually roll everything, and if anything is too wirnkly when we get there, I just put it on a coat hanger in the bathroom, and leave it in there while we shower. The steam seems to straighten everything out.

Jen

 

[irishbosoxfan]

another thing to cut back on wrinkles is to make sure the item is folded correctly before rolling--shirts in half lengthwise with the sleeves matched up then folded in then start with the neck of the shirt and roll down tightly.

We are military here and I had never folded this way till my sister joined and I met DH so that is the only way we pack(too include his uniforms) and I have never had to iron anything before being able to wear it!

 

[DawnCt1]

Thanks for the encouragement. I rolled all of DS#3 shirts too. We have soooo much luggage but then, there are six of us. I think I did good this year keeping it under control. I set the limit of the size of the suitcase.....except for me.

 

[7beasley]

I just came back from a week long trip to Las Vegas...I wanted to get everything in a carry on bag since it takes so long to get checked luggage - I got the following into a wheely carry on bag...

*5 pairs of shorts
*8 shirts
*6 sundresses
*12 pairs of underwear
*2 bras
*10 pairs of socks
*a pair of PJS
*a bathing suit
*a tshirt
*2 pairs of sandals

It was the best packing job I had ever done -- rolling was the best!! And nothing was wrinkled when I got there - I folded it all the right way before rolling it.

Happy packing!
~Nicole

 

[CEDmom]

I always roll our clothes and I have had much less problems with wrinkles then when I folded them. I always iron everything before packing which really helps. I'd also suggest getting some Downy Wrinkle Releaser and bringing it with you. It really works.

 

[CEDmom]

That's how I used to pack when the kids were little. Back then the biggest size bag was one gallon. It was so easy in the mornings. Just toss them a bag with all of their stuff. Now I don't think I could get a pair of those cargo shorts in a bag.

They make really big bags now. I'm able to get DH's jeans along with the rest of what he needs for the day in one of them.

 

[Jeanny]

I roll and use plastic bags and squish the air out of them.... Ziplock has 2 gallon bags and they hold A LOT.


Sitting on the baggies to squish the air is half the fun of packing

 

[GeorgeG]

another thing to cut back on wrinkles is to make sure the item is folded correctly before rolling--shirts in half lengthwise with the sleeves matched up then folded in then start with the neck of the shirt and roll down tightly.

We are military here and I had never folded this way till my sister joined and I met DH so that is the only way we pack(too include his uniforms) and I have never had to iron anything before being able to wear it!

What she said...

I first learned to roll back in the navy and how you fold and roll is the key.

Many hotels now have irons in the rooms for touching up and the shower steam is also an old standby.

The baggies are good for keeping anything that could leak in (shampoo, etc.) and a few kitchen size garbage bags are good for dirty clothes. The laundry bags the hotels supply are often too small.

Another must when I travel is a small flashlight. You never know when you'll be in dark, unfamilar surroundings when you travel.

 

[powellrj]

That's how I used to pack when the kids were little. Back then the biggest size bag was one gallon. It was so easy in the mornings. Just toss them a bag with all of their stuff. Now I don't think I could get a pair of those cargo shorts in a bag.

The bags they make now are huge! DH is a big 2x guy and I can get a whole outfit with cargo shorts and polo shirt and underwear in one bag for him.

 

[froglady]

Another must when I travel is a small flashlight. You never know when you'll be in dark, unfamilar surroundings when you travel.

I always make gift bags for our family reunion (to cover all of the birthdays so I don't have to keep track of them) so a couple of years ago I made a "travel" bag. I put in folding hangars, drying clips, small sewing and first aid kits, etc but also put in tiny flashlights.

Believe it or not, a thunderstorm came through during the week and knocked out power, so EVERYONE got to use theirs! I was the "hero" of the day.

 

[scarlett873]

Wow!! I've heard about rolling before...maybe this will come in handy when we travel to China to pick up our little one!

I'll have to start practicing now...lol!

 

[LukenDC]

I always roll my clothes when I pack them and I find that it saves a lot of room in the suitcase and I do not have a problem with wrinkles. When I arrive at my destination, I unpack my suitcase and hang my shirts up and that too helps to diminish wrinkles.

Have fun on your trip.