Roll Vs Mound Packing Techniques

[semo233]

I have heard of both of these packing techniques, but have to admit, I just don't know how to do it correctly. I tried the rolling technique, and stuff was more wrinkled than usual!
Is there someone who can explain these techniques in detail?

 

[katybugsmom]

I'm not sure about the mound tech., but I find, especially with kids clothes, packing complete outfits in gallon size zip-loc bags works very well. You can get most of the air out and can pack more into a suitcase. I did this last summer for my DD's first trip to summer camp and she didn't even lose a sock!!! You can even repack dirty clothes the same way! I plan on doing this for our trip to WDW in June. Each of my children will need only choose a bag each night instead of going through piles of clothes and trying to match an outfit. It really saves time and effort! Hope this helps! Good luck!

 

[bostonpluto]

I did this for my 3 kids on our last trip and it made our mornings so much easier. They just grabbed a bag each day and that was it. At the end of the week they weren't left with mismatched outfits. It worked great and I plan on doing it again for our upcoming trip in a few weeks.

 

[KatieIsSoPR]

When I pack, I always pack about three times as much as I need
However, I find that if you lay clothes flat into your suitcase and fold in sleeves or sides or whatever doesn't lay flat, you can pack a ton and nothing gets wrinkled.

 

[semo233]

When I pack, I always pack about three times as much as I need
However, I find that if you lay clothes flat into your suitcase and fold in sleeves or sides or whatever doesn't lay flat, you can pack a ton and nothing gets wrinkled.

I think this is called the Mound Technique. I've tried this and I wonder if I'm just expecting too much. I have a pair of pants that I want to wear our first night of our vacation, so there will be no time to get them pressed (on board a cruise ship). Then, when we get to Disney, I could use a regular iron in the hotel.
Thanks

 

[PiratesRock]

I do the ziplocks for the kids. Works great and the wrinkles eventually fall out of t's and cotton shorts I do throw a steamer in my suitcase for if the wrinkles are just too bad!

 

[Rora]

I'm actually a roller. I place my shoes closest to the edge of my suitcase and then roll all my clothes. I can fit so much more in and I've found that nothing really wrinkles. But to be honest, when I'm on vacation, I don't care if my clothes wrinkle. I am an overpackers so the rolling technique works much better for me because I can fit so much in. Good luck!

 

[coolbeans]

we always just fold and pile it in the suitcase or duffel whichever we are using. I did buy two sets of packing cubes from e-bags to use for stuff like underwear, bras and socks. I think those will help with myself and DH trying to find the small stuff. (I ALWAYS panic and think I have run out of bloomers and then find a pair stuffed somewhere under something.) DS outfits will be packed in zip lock bags and I'm trying to convince DD to do this too but she is 12 and it may or may not work with her stuff

 

[semo233]

I'm actually a roller. I place my shoes closest to the edge of my suitcase and then roll all my clothes. I can fit so much more in and I've found that nothing really wrinkles. But to be honest, when I'm on vacation, I don't care if my clothes wrinkle. I am an overpackers so the rolling technique works much better for me because I can fit so much in. Good luck!

Rora, please explain how you roll...doesn't the area on the inside of the roll wrinkle? Am I rolling too tight?
semo233

 

[ZoZo]

I'm a roller, too.

For knit wear (t-shirts, tanks, etc.) I fold them in half lengthwise (neck to hem), tuck in the sleeves if the garment has them, then roll from neck to hem. I have never had problems with wrinkles, but I mostly wear knit stuff, which doesn't wrinkle much.

For shorts, I do the same thing - fold in half lengthwise (waistband to hem) then roll.

Not sure why you're getting wrinkles - what type of stuff are you packing? It pretty much depends on the fabric - a button-down oxford-type shirt would wrinkle much more than a knit, of course.

One solution for wrinkles is to bring a small, empty spray bottle with you - give your clothes a quick spritz of water, whisk out the wrinkles, and let dry. That works for lots of fabrics, including knits.

 

[sajilunni]

I tend to mound, because it's the easiest way to get things off the hanger and into the suitcase without any folding whatsoever.

But a great thing I have found for any wrinkles that might set in is Downey Wrinkle Release. Have you seen it in the laundry aisle? I poured it into a sample size hairspay pump and put it in my toiletry kit. All you do is spray it on the wrinkle and pull the cloth taut. When it dries the wrinkle is gone. It's not going to be as smooth as an iron job, but there won't be those deep, unsightly wrinkles.

Have you looked into wrinkle-free clothes? I'm obsessed with them because I both hate ironing, and using the drycleaners. My husband is a doctor and has to wear a lot of button up shirts, but over the last decade I've converted his entire wardrobe to wrinkle-free. The wrinkles come out even if you leave the clothes in the dryer overnight It just makes for a much more stress-free life for myself. At the store I bunch up a corner of the cloth in my hand to see if it will instantly wrinkle. If it does, it's just not worth it as a daily staple.