Packing with ziploc bags

[Kat77]

Dollar Tree carries two gallon ziplocks.

 

[Kat77]

I rolled the t-shirts and I think I fit around 4-5 in each bag. This is for my packing of course, dd's clothes are all matched up and there is an outfit in each bag..this way dh can dress her in the mornings without asking where her underwear is, what bottom matches what top, etc. I haven't added dd's hairbows to the bags yet because I was afraid that I would need one before our trip..considering that I packed dd weeks ago .

I am actually thinking about doing ziploc bag's when dd starts school next year. I think I am going to put together 5 outfits each week and then put them in ziploc bags (underwear, socks, and hairbows included) so that our mornings run smoothly. I'll do the bags every Sunday night, that way i'm set for the week. I'm just trying to minimize my time and this would make my life easier to say the least

Have you considered a hanging cubby? I used one to organize uniforms when my kids were little (Monday=scouts, Thursday=ballet, Saturday= Tball). Made my life sooo much easier.

 

[Kristian]

Have you considered a hanging cubby? I used one to organise uniforms when my kids were little (Monday=scouts, Thursday=ballet, Saturday= Tball). Made my life sooo much easier.

That is a great idea!! I just know that I want to be able to organize an entire weeks worth of outfits so that its done and there is no guess work each morning. Dd is an only child right now, but it seems that even getting ready to go to the grocery store is chaotic when it comes to choosing and matching clothing.

 

[lucyem]

I use packing cubes. Reusable and you can buy in all different colors. Each child has their own set in a different color. Ziplocks are fine for liquids but i hate using all that plastic.

 

[ericstac]

for those that say they do this so their DH can just whip a bag out and dress the kid, how do you do this without ironing the clothes? Are the clothes not all wrinkly from being smooshed up in the ziplock?

 

[dansamy]

for those that say they do this so their DH can just whip a bag out and dress the kid, how do you do this without ironing the clothes? Are the clothes not all wrinkly from being smooshed up in the ziplock?

You roll the clothing.

 

[Happyjen27]

for those that say they do this so their DH can just whip a bag out and dress the kid, how do you do this without ironing the clothes? Are the clothes not all wrinkly from being smooshed up in the ziplock?

Rolling the clothes helps.

Apathy helps too. No way I'm ironing kids clothes at home for everyday wear, one the road there is even less of a chance of ironing. Christmas, sure, I'll iron. A day of sticky, stinky park touring? Nah.

I do the zip locks for the kids clothes, but just felt silly doing it for mine. I know how to plan outfits. I'm not concerned about TSA pawing through them. So, I just packed the old fashioned way.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

This is a really good reason, but I'm actually surprised that TSA wouldn't open the bags. And ugh, hate to think what they'd do if the opened a compression bag!

TSA will squeeze the bags and won't open them if they can feel only clothes inside.

I'm curious as to what problems might be caused by a TSA agent touching someone's dirty clothes, then touching your clothes.

I just don't get packing clothes in ziploc bags, especially an adult's clothes. It's a lot of extra effort and waste.

And a man can't manage to dress his own child on his own, without having to choose from a preselected ziploc outfit?

 

[no1steelerfn]

TSA will squeeze the bags and won't open them if they can feel only clothes inside. I'm curious as to what problems might be caused by a TSA agent touching someone's dirty clothes, then touching your clothes. I just don't get packing clothes in ziploc bags, especially an adult's clothes. It's a lot of extra effort and waste. And a man can't manage to dress his own child on his own, without having to choose from a preselected ziploc outfit?

I don't think it's a waste, it really helps to keep the clothes from wrinkling and makes it easier to fit more. DD gets to pick her outfits ahead of time and it's all thought out. I love packing with ziplocks!!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I don't think it's a waste, it really helps to keep the clothes from wrinkling and makes it easier to fit more. DD gets to pick her outfits ahead of time and it's all thought out. I love packing with ziplocks!!!

That's great, but too much work for me. I travel a lot, but only use a packing cube or two.

 

[letsgoreds]

Rolling the clothes helps.

Apathy helps too. No way I'm ironing kids clothes at home for everyday wear, one the road there is even less of a chance of ironing. Christmas, sure, I'll iron. A day of sticky, stinky park touring? Nah.

I do the zip locks for the kids clothes, but just felt silly doing it for mine. I know how to plan outfits. I'm not concerned about TSA pawing through them. So, I just packed the old fashioned way.

The comment about apathy made me smile. Thanks!

I may go this way with our next trip, as DS3 can take forever choosing what he wants to wear.

 

[aubriee]

I just started using the packing cubes from e-bags. They come in a variety of colors and sizes, and right now I believe they are 20% off. I love them. So much easier that the ziplock bags (for me), but I'm not packing for small children. There is a thread about them on the budget board somewhere.

I use packing cubes. Reusable and you can buy in all different colors. Each child has their own set in a different color. Ziplocks are fine for liquids but i hate using all that plastic.

I love packing folders and cubes. I am pooh size but can get a week's worth of shorts, tops, a sundress or two, and a couple of nightgowns in one 18" packing folder. I pack them by outfit in the opposite order that I plan on wearing them, so that when open the packing folder the first day's outfit is on top with the second day's next, and so on. It may be a tight fit, but as long as those velco edges meet, the packing folder will stay closed. I then use one packing cube (usually a slim cube) for panties and bras and a slim cube for two swimsuites and a coverup. I have a 22" Heys Exotic spinner that I use as a carry on and the filled 18" packing folder easily buckles into the upper side with a flip flop stashed at each end, then I have the whole bottom half for the two packing cubes, a white noise machine I can't do without, a Vera Bradly medium toiletry bag, and usually still have a little extra space left over. Electronics, sunglasses, and meds go in my personal item, along with paperwork, and my 3-1-1 bag of liquids. I can easily pack for a week in a carry on and one personal item, using packing folders and packing cubes. Last May we packed for eleven days using carryons only (using packing folders and packing cubes). I really prefer packing my clothes in the 18" packing folders rather than the packing cubes. It seems like I can get more in one. If we do decide to check a bag, then I use a 20" packing folder as more will fit in it.

I also have a 22" Kipling Teagan that I sometimes use as a carry on. With that bag I do better rolling clothes tightly. I can still get a week's worth of shorts/tshirts, a couple of nightgowns, bras, panties, flip flops, the toiletry bag, and white noise machine in the bottom section. I then usually put some food/snack items in the top section. Small laptop, Kindle, MP3 player, camera, cell phone, chargers, sunglasses, meds, and paperwork still go in the personal item.

 

[binkblum]

Love packing clothes in Ziplocs. I do say it is easier to do for the girls' clothes as big people clothes take up less space rolled up. The Ziploc also preserve the clothes so they do not need to be ironed. Ahhh, anything to save time!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

This method also works well for spilt stays or a cruise in the middle. I also got some 'days of the week' socks for vacation. Each one has the day of the week written really nicely on the sole. Who wants to use their brain on vacation! Each day I just pulled out the right socks. We came for 2 weeks but I just went to the laundry after 7 days and started again!

At the end of the vacation ( sad alert coming up ) I wash all the clothes and packed them so no washing at home plus no travelling with dirty clothes in luggage!

Putting things in different coded bags helps for weather changes too.

 

[SEA333]

TSA will squeeze the bags and won't open them if they can feel only clothes inside.

I'm curious as to what problems might be caused by a TSA agent touching someone's dirty clothes, then touching your clothes.

I just don't get packing clothes in ziploc bags, especially an adult's clothes. It's a lot of extra effort and waste.

And a man can't manage to dress his own child on his own, without having to choose from a preselected ziploc outfit?

^^This is what is called: "CONTROL" LOL It's one of those upper-middle class, first world problems that are so rampant on these boards....

It's all good though - I have a few control issues myself. It took years before I would let my kids empty the dishwasher because I wanted my cabinets and drawers to stay organized. Of course, this was overshadowded by my complete lack of time (and the crazy sense of unfairness that it's never any fun to be the mom....), so now I put my big girl panties on and let the cabinets go a little.

And....I still do not let DH dress DD, but he has pretty much free reign with the boys. This kind of has more to do with the fact that she is 9 now and I have very little say over what she wears anymore, and the bows that are sitting in her drawer that she has worn since birth are almost NEVER allowed in her hair anymore ....and instead of pink, her fave colors are now turquoise and neon green....so any chance I get to MAKE her wear something pretty anymore, I will take it!!! LOL

 

[rachael95]

I'm curious as to what problems might be caused by a TSA agent touching someone's dirty clothes, then touching your clothes.

I'll bite but I suspect this is a tad on the trollish side But there are many people who have lice and other nasties and things like that would possibly adhere to the gloves the TSA agents use and be transferred to another person's stuff.

I just don't get packing clothes in ziploc bags, especially an adult's clothes. It's a lot of extra effort and waste.

And a man can't manage to dress his own child on his own, without having to choose from a preselected ziploc outfit?

Packing clothes in the ziplock also means when you go to the parks, the clothes stay dry if you get wet. It is very nice pulling out a nice, dry T-shirt for an adult or an entire outfit for a child if the other one is ruined in some way. Also, the now empty ziplock would work well to hold the wet clothes until you return to the hotel.

As for a man who can't dress his own child - my DH is color blind. You'd be shocked at some of the choices he'd make. Plus, if we have ADRs, I might want a particular outfit for a particular thing. Animal print or safari for visiting AK, etc.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Or you could just roll the outfits together and put a rubber band around them. Or lay them in groups in the bag layered with the socks and undies that go with each one. That is what I do because we are a plastic bag free house...I have to admit this sounds nice for organization, but the thought of all those bags going into the landfill just for a vacation makes me a little sad. Hopefully they are used for every vacation over and over- please lie to me and tell me that this is what you guys are doing

 

[rachael95]

Or you could just roll the outfits together and put a rubber band around them. Or lay them in groups in the bag layered with the socks and undies that go with each one. That is what I do because we are a plastic bag free house...I have to admit this sounds nice for organization, but the thought of all those bags going into the landfill just for a vacation makes me a little sad. Hopefully they are used for every vacation over and over- please lie to me and tell me that this is what you guys are doing

You lose the ability to store wet things in the bags from the parks and the ability to keep your spare outfit in the park dry.

I think many people don't realize how often plastic grocery bags and other bags can be used (and are used by most people).

I definitely re-use bags. I use plastic grocery bags for bringing lunches, packing clothes or medicine, etc when traveling and ultimately garbage can bags, used cat litter bags, poopy diaper bags,....tons of stuff. If I couldn't get plastic bags every time I go to the grocery store, I'd have to buy bags - increasing what ultimately ends up in the landfill. Especially considering how "reusable" bags actually have a huge carbon footprint because most people don't wash them and throw them away after a few months. And the plastic bag's footprint is lessened the number of times you use it.

 

[DSNY4ever]

We use reusable bags for shopping and we use our "wetbags" from cloth diapering to hold clothes in the park. Our stroller got rained on last week, but everything in the wetbag was nice and dry. They are a great alternative to plastic bags and have a lot of uses with kids and babies. Planetwise makes a great small wet bag that we use for everything.

But I am glad you are re-using your bags at least

 

[Trip planner]

I started using packing a cubes a couple of years ago and I am a huge fan!
Reasons:
You can go through your luggage without messing everything up.
The whole family can share a suitcase and be organized.(we have different colors for family member )
You can see what is in the cubes
I've packed by both item type (pj's, socks,etc) and outfit. Usually item type if I plan to re-wear jeans.
I often sort dirty laundry by color before re-packing to go home.
My hubby made fun of the purchase but he has elected to use them if he travels for work
I use the small ones in my diaper bag and work bag.