TSA Rules for Toiletries

The only Liquids, Gels or Aerosols (think things that don't keep their shape when taken out of their container) that can be carried in carry-ons must be under 3.4 ounces each. Each person traveling is allowed one baggie (quart size, zip lock type) and as many of the 3.4 ounce bottles as can comfortably fit in that bag and zip shut.

Full size toiletry articles are not (and have not been since August of 2006) permitted in carry on baggage. There are a few exceptions - those include medications and contact lens solution. Those do still need to be "declared" to the officer as you're going through security.

If you have any questions about exactly what Liquid, Gel or Aerosol is:

If you can:
Spray it
Splash it
Spread it
Smear it
Pour it
Drink it

it is a liquid and must be put in your zip lock type baggie.

I work for TSA.


great response.

The only caveat I will mention is the contact lens solution. Remember, this is TSA inside the US. I was departing CDG (Paris) and my full size contact solution was NOT allowed through security. Luckily, it wasn't terribly full, so I didn't lose a whole bottle (I use a brand that is extremely difficult to find and not available everywhere). However, I couldn't take out my contacts on the way home across the Atlantic. I was happy I had eye drops to keep them moistened.

so... contact solution? yes... in the US.
 
I'm really tired today, but what does the saran wrap under the lids do? Does that really keep the product from leaking out?:confused3 Should I do that, along with putting my stuff in baggies? I have had a couple of times where my baggied stuff had some leakage.
 
I'm really tired today, but what does the saran wrap under the lids do? Does that really keep the product from leaking out?:confused3 Should I do that, along with putting my stuff in baggies? I have had a couple of times where my baggied stuff had some leakage.

It helps to keep the lids from unscrewing themselves or popping open b/c of the pressure, as saran wrap will stretch somewhat. It's usually not a bad idea.

Cans CAN leak if the store seal has been broken; usually not much, but it happens. It is always best to put any kind of container holding liquid in a bag with absorbent material in it. It protects the rest of your things, and those of other passengers as well.
 

You can get travel size hairspray and mousse at

http://www.minimus.biz/Hair-Styling.aspx

They carry a lot of hard to find travel size items like color safe shampoo etc.


I find many of these in the travel size / trial size sections of most drugstores, and especially in Walmart or Target. No need to special order this stuff. Especially as these stores now know that this size is needed for airplane travel.
 
I have been trying to take trips with one small carryon that fits under the seat, especially or just a weekend.

I bought my first Lush product recently-the toothpaste tablets. Not wonderful but not bad either. I put them in a different container though because the box isn't really sturdy.

They also have a shampoo bar that's supposed to be good.

I tend to use the hotel toiletries so don't have to bring a lot. I usually stay at Marriotts and they often carry extras of many items.

However I am a little embarrassed that my quart bag is usually full, as I carry some small bottles of alcohol in it.....amaretto, Baileys, etc so I can have a little nightcap.
 
/
I remember a houseguest who redistributed multipurpose contact lens in a small generic looking squeeze bottle. That sort of violated every rule I ever rule I ever learned about contact lens sanitary practices, but I suppose he never had an issue. The main issue is that every time you rely on the disinfectant in a CL solution to kill microorganisms, it depletes some of that disinfectant. When you keep on using a contact lens case, the disinfectant is actually disinfecting the interior surface of the case.

Still - I've heard that even saline can actually disinfect a contact lens if kept in contact long enough. I remember using one type of saline that used the same preservative that's the disinfectatant in most contact lens disinfecting solutions - Bausch and Lomb Sensitive Eyes Plus. It contains polyaminopropyl biguanide, which is a preservative and disinfectant, but in about 1/3 the concentration of most disinfecting solutions. Not many people do this any more, but an old recommended practice was to store a contact lens in sterile, preserved saline after being disinfected. The idea was that even if it got contaminated a little bit during transfer or when the case was opened, the preservative in the saline was enough to keep it disinfected.

That being said, the last time I got some sample contact lenses, the eye doc handed out several 2 oz bottles of contact lens solution. Just saline doesn't usually come in this size though, and the smallest size I've seen is 4 oz. Most people who use saline go through lots of it, and 4 oz wouldn't be enough.
 
Mine's full.

I had two not-so-wonderful (as in "awful") experiences where our checked luggage went on to our destination without us and we were stranded without stuff I really wish we had with us, so now I take necessities and conveniences I want in my carryon in case we run into the same situation.

Do travel hand wipes need to be in the quart bag?
4130F5YYMRL._SY300_.jpg

Somewhat veering OT, but I can't stand the "new improved" citrus scent of those. It smells like a pina colada. I previously didn't like the "fresh scent" version because it smelled like scented baby wipes, but that's less offensive to me than the coco-nutty smell of what used to faintly remind me of lemon. The old smell was mild and not likely to make you smell like you just slammed down a tropical drink.
 
I remember a houseguest who redistributed multipurpose contact lens in a small generic looking squeeze bottle. That sort of violated every rule I ever rule I ever learned about contact lens sanitary practices, but I suppose he never had an issue. The main issue is that every time you rely on the disinfectant in a CL solution to kill microorganisms, it depletes some of that disinfectant. When you keep on using a contact lens case, the disinfectant is actually disinfecting the interior surface of the case.

Still - I've heard that even saline can actually disinfect a contact lens if kept in contact long enough. I remember using one type of saline that used the same preservative that's the disinfectatant in most contact lens disinfecting solutions - Bausch and Lomb Sensitive Eyes Plus. It contains polyaminopropyl biguanide, which is a preservative and disinfectant, but in about 1/3 the concentration of most disinfecting solutions. Not many people do this any more, but an old recommended practice was to store a contact lens in sterile, preserved saline after being disinfected. The idea was that even if it got contaminated a little bit during transfer or when the case was opened, the preservative in the saline was enough to keep it disinfected.

That being said, the last time I got some sample contact lenses, the eye doc handed out several 2 oz bottles of contact lens solution. Just saline doesn't usually come in this size though, and the smallest size I've seen is 4 oz. Most people who use saline go through lots of it, and 4 oz wouldn't be enough.

Target sells 2 oz. bottles of multipurpose contact solution, in with the other travel-size items. That's enough to get me through about 2 weeks. The one time I tried to "declare" a full size bottle per the TSA regs the TSA officer was a complete jerk about it and told me that you could only declare medication, baby formula, etc. I had to escalate to a supervisor to get it through.
 
Target sells 2 oz. bottles of multipurpose contact solution, in with the other travel-size items. That's enough to get me through about 2 weeks. The one time I tried to "declare" a full size bottle per the TSA regs the TSA officer was a complete jerk about it and told me that you could only declare medication, baby formula, etc. I had to escalate to a supervisor to get it through.

I have kept the contact lens solution in it's original bottle, but left it outside my carryon so it could be swabbed down if need be. Well, the last two times we have done this? The TSA people have nicely told us that the bottle can stay in the carry on bag!! It doesn't need to be left out. Geez. It would be nice if they could all do the same thing.
 
I bought my first Lush product recently-the toothpaste tablets. Not wonderful but not bad either. I put them in a different container though because the box isn't really sturdy.

They also have a shampoo bar that's supposed to be good.

I posted in a similar thread a few months ago about the Lush shampoo bar. I bought the Squeaky Green one a few months ago for a trip and like it a lot. Lathers incredibly well and rinses clean. I think I'm going to try their solid conditioner too. This was the first time I've used a Lush product so I was hesitant to buy both at the same time.
 
Target sells 2 oz. bottles of multipurpose contact solution, in with the other travel-size items. That's enough to get me through about 2 weeks. The one time I tried to "declare" a full size bottle per the TSA regs the TSA officer was a complete jerk about it and told me that you could only declare medication, baby formula, etc. I had to escalate to a supervisor to get it through.

You can bring on a "reasonable amount" of bottled water for a child to drink, but it will typically go through an explosives detector. Sometimes we brought a few bottles intentionally, but at other times we forgot and they let us keep a few bottles because we had a child with us. I remember that one time they found something like 4 10 oz bottles (I like smaller bottles for their convenience) as well as several 7.5 oz cans of Coke. That one time with the Coke the TSA screener said "that can't be for the kid". Honestly - my kid drinks Coke although we try not to give too much. Still - there weren't going to let us get through with the cans.
 
I have kept the contact lens solution in it's original bottle, but left it outside my carryon so it could be swabbed down if need be. Well, the last two times we have done this? The TSA people have nicely told us that the bottle can stay in the carry on bag!! It doesn't need to be left out. Geez. It would be nice if they could all do the same thing.
What do you mean by "swabbed down"?
 
They swab for explosives. They did it when I carried my pumped breast milk thru security last month. I will do it again on Friday.

They have various means of doing it. One is to pour a sample of whatever liquid onto an indicator strip and place it in a machine that spits out a result. Another machine can take an entire bottle. I've also had my hands sampled where a wet swab was placed against my hands and then transferred to an indicator strip.
 
You'd be amazed how 3 oz items I can stuff in one of those bags!! :rotfl::rotfl:

For the liquids that won't fit, the greatest thing invented that I use is one of those food sealers. I will put the the liquids in one of the heavy-duty plastic bags and suck and seal....perfect in case anything opens in your luggage.
 
I have kept the contact lens solution in it's original bottle, but left it outside my carryon so it could be swabbed down if need be. Well, the last two times we have done this? The TSA people have nicely told us that the bottle can stay in the carry on bag!! It doesn't need to be left out. Geez. It would be nice if they could all do the same thing.

The random inconsistency is designed to keep potential terrorists off guard. :rotfl:
 
Edit: Posted to wrong thread.
 














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