I use packing folders made by Eagle Creek to pack most of our clothes when we travel.
They help me to keep wrinkles at bay and also keep the clothes organized in my suitcase so I can find what I am looking for easily.
I use them for packing folded clothes as the product is designed, but lately I’ve been using them to pack hanging clothes, as well.
Packing on hangers helps cut down on unpacking time because all you do is open the packing folder, pull out the clothes, pop them in the closet and you are ready to go. This technique is especially good for cruises where drawer space is tight but hanging space is plentiful. And it ensures that you always have the hangers you want. No more scrounging for hangers and double-hanging things!
Since I love this new method so much, I thought I should share how I do it.
First place your clothes on the hanger. (I tend to use wire hangers because they take up less room, but any hanger will work.)
Place the hook of the hanger at the edge of the packing surface with your clothes hanging over what is left of it.
Gently fold your clothes back over the packing surface, arms in and shirt tails/ edges up, pulling the fabric straight, using the enclosed folding board until you are comfortable working without it.
Bend your clothes as many times back over as needed to make them fit on the surface, pulling out the wrinkles each time.
If your clothes are especially wrinkle-prone, consider slipping every other piece inside a plastic dry cleaning bag before laying and folding.
Check to see if you can close the packing folder and add clothes until you cannot close the folder easily. Move onto the next folder when needed. Do not over-pack each folder or else you will get wrinkles.
Slip the folders into your suitcase and you’re ready to go!
I love how my clothes are ‘filed’ away for easy unpacking! Also, if a trip has several stops and I don’t want to unpack at each one, I label the folders with masking tape so I know what to open when. On trips when I know we’ll be arriving late at night, I tie a ribbon on the folder of clothes we need to wear first thing in the morning. This helps me to get everyone dressed without much thought.
This system works well with hanging clothes and when you want to leave everything folded.
For some vacations, packing clothes on hangers makes perfect sense.
On some trips, though, I leave everything folded. When I leave everything folded, I often pack an outfit at a time, keeping accessories and underwear with each outfit. Typically when I do this, I pack by the day, so all I have to do is open the folder and everything we need to get dressed that day is ready to go.
Yes, these packing folders cost around $15 to $30 per folder, depending on the size and where you find them for sale. However, I cannot tell you how many times I have used them over the past 12 years of traveling with my husband and then family. They have made packing a snap, unpacking a breeze and given me more time to enjoy our vacations because I’m not searching for a lost item or ironing. I use them in molded suitcases and duffle bags.
Packing folders and plastic zipper bags are my two most-used, most-loved packing tools.
And I promise, I received no compensation whatsoever for writing this post. I just truly love the tools!
To see them in action and hear another travel tip, check out my clip on Wild About Houston.
This post is participating in Tutorial Tuesday at Smockity Frocks. Click over and see what else you can learn. :)
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