Travel-Related New Uses for Old Things

For tangle-free jewelry during your travels, unclasp the chain, thread it through a plastic drinking straw, and reclasp. For a shorter chain, cut the drinking straw to the desired length.

Travel is best done in pairs (think of Lewis and Clark or Thelma and Louise). To keep a set of earrings together on your next overnight jaunt, fasten them to a button so they won’t get lost in your suitcase pocket.

Pack delicate items. Wrap frames and figurines with several pieces of newspaper, and then crumple the remaining sections to fill extra space in the box.

Lighten your carry-on load and sub conditioner for shaving cream.

Pack small amounts of salt, pepper, and spices for a camping trip.

Attention, PTA members: Here’s a practical Transport Alternative for the bake sale. Tape a cereal box closed, then cut away the front or back panel to create a tray for those top-selling brownies. Best of all, you can just "donate" the box.

Store chargers, power cords, and extra headphones in the clear pouches of a hanging jewelry organizer. You'll be able to find exactly what you're looking for and packing your tech is that much easier. Submitted by: jloper 

Avoid decorating mistakes. Tuck fabric, wallpaper, and paint swatches inside so you can ensure a perfect match.

Want drivers to see—not sideswipe—yourmailbox at night? Glue headlight-catching CDs onto its side.

Don't ditch excess confetti or shredded paper. Use it to cushion breakable items so they arrive in one piece.

Avoid ironing while on the road. Pack clothes between layers of tissue paper and they’ll arrive wrinkle-free.

Rough commute? Slide a drink cooler over an apple to keep it from bruising in your lunch tote.

Keep extra travel-sized toothpaste, shampoo, cotton balls and other personal items in an old suitcase. With a trunk full of toiletries, you'll never run out of necessities. Plus, you'll save valuable shelf space for the things you use every day.

Slip a gift label inside a tag.

Don't trash that plastic Easter grass (but do keep it away from your pets; it can be dangerous if consumed). Use it as packing materials for delicate items—so you won’t need to worry whether Uncle Bob's favorite Chianti will make it to his wine cellar unscathed.

Make a compact sewing kit by sticking needles and pins in a cork. For a little zip, wrap it with a few lengths of thread.

Make an on-the-go cosmetics kit by applying a bit of your favorite eye shadow, concealer, and lip gloss to the ends of cotton swabs and stashing them in a plastic bag in your purse.

Tag your precious travel items, such as your iPod and digital camera with return address labels. If you accidentally leave a device on the airplane, a Good Samaritan will know where to mail it. Consider them homing devices for your airborne companions.

A travel guide screams "I’m lost!" but cloaking it in pretty paper or the jacket of a book in the native language will let you blend in with the locals. You'll be more likely to be asked for directions than taken for a ride.

For tangle-free jewlery on the go, place chains and earrings on a length of wrap, roll tightly, and tape closed. Your necklaces will emerge from your suitcase ready to wear, even if the same can't be said for your clothes.

Use a business card case to make packets of your favorite sweetener portable. You'll always have coffee your way―without a purse full of powder from torn packets.

When you’re on the go, leave the bulky pill bottles in the medicine cabinet and place only what you need in a plastic bag. You can keep your daily dose all buttoned up.

Laura Graham
Stockton, California

Separate foreign currency from American bills in your handbag or wallet so you don't mix up your paper trail.

For clever gift tags that capture a travel memory, hang on to cardboard coasters from the bars and the restaurants you visit on your journey. When you return home with souvenirs for friends and family, punch a hole near the edge of the coaster, tie a ribbon through the hole, and write a quick note in an empty space (or on the blank side).

Easily transport non-prescription pills without all the bottles. Pop it into your handbag and you'll have a headache remedy handy when the man in seat 7A drones on about his herniated disk. Plus you'll keep pills out of contact with everything else in your purse

Don’t make yourself a target by looking like a tourist. Snap a photo of your map and it will look as if you’re scrolling through snapshots, not street names.

An unused glasses case makes a convenient storage spot for nail files, clippers and other manicure essentials while on the go.

Assemble a mobile manicure kit by cutting a sponge into small pieces, saturating them with nail polish remover, and storing them in the canister.

Rub a bit of lip balm on dry cuticles for a quick and easy way to soften them when you're on-the-go.

Keep shampoo from crossing unauthorized borders by packing toiletries in a sturdy lunch box in your luggage.

Carry unwieldy packages by twisting several feet of wrap into a sturdy rope, tying it around a box, and knotting the rest into a handle.

Keep off season linens and other decorations in a suitcase when you're not traveling.

While a bottle of expired sunscreen will no longer protect you from UV rays, it can still protect you from razor burn. Use it when lubing up to keep legs smooth all year long.

Keep your plants hydrated. If you’re going away for a week or so, place a towel in a bathtub or sink and fill with about two inches of water. Then thoroughly water the houseplants, and place them on top of the towel. They’ll soak up the water.

Pack enough jewelry for a week away. The individual compartments are the perfect place to keep earrings, necklaces, and rings safe and tangle-free.

Keep track of your earrings while you hit the gym (or the spa). Place the studs through the holes on the watch strap and then attach their backs.

Fend off pressed powder by storing your purse compact in a securely zipped plastic bag.

Skip individual travel-size bottles and load lipstick shades and cream foundation into the compartments of a multi-day pill case.

Make your suitcase easier to identify. Stick a few pieces of duct tape to the sides of the bag to avoid the usual "Is that mine?" routine at the baggage carousel.

All out of shaving cream? Rather than skipping the shaving session altogether, reach for the conditioner to help soften your skin.

Now that your travel toiletries have taken up residence in a plastic bag, stash markers and colored pencils where the makeup brushes used to, and tuck stickers and stamps into the case's smaller compartments.

Carry a matchbook from your hotel when you're visiting an unfamiliar city to direct a taxi driver when the address escapse your memory.

Once the sticks are gone, fill a matchbox with a few sewing essentials: needles, thread, buttons, and a few safety pins. No more need to panic when a button emergency strikes on a business trip.

When you don’t have time to let your styling tool cool (say, you’re headed for the airport or going straight to work from the gym), stash it in a heat-resistant mitt before packing it up.

Corral crayons for an instant kids’ distraction kit. Keep the tin in your purse for the next waiting room for perfectly quiet little Picassos.

Cher Willems
Northampton, Massachusetts

A 30 percent chance of rain… hmm. Do you tote around an umbrella (maybe for nothing) or head out sans protection (and risk getting drenched)? Third option: Tuck a plastic bag into your pocket or purse. Then, if you're caught in a downpour, you can use it as an on-the-spot rain hat to protect your do.

Stop leaky toiletries from putting a damper on your next vacation by covering each bottle and tube with a layer of wrap.

A rainy day equals wanting to stay in bed, under the covers. That’s rarely possible, but there is a silver lining. You can brighten up a decidedly utilitarian umbrella by tying a pretty bow on it.

Prevent dirt or sand-covered shoes from mingling (and soiling) neatly packed clothes in your suitcase.

Protect your picture taker from getting knocked around in your carry-on by placing it in a hard plastic travel soap case.

Store seasonal dishcloths, napkins, and tablecloths together for easy-access table settings.

Prevent salads from going soggy in your lunch bag by storing your favorite dressin in a travel bottle until lunchtime. Then pour it on and toss.

Use athletic socks to sheathe your nicest shoes inside a suitcase. Protecting them from wear and tear when you're on the road.

To prevent souvenir maps, ticket stubs, postcards, and museum brochures from bending or tearing in your suitcase, just roll them up and drop them into a dry, wide-mouthed bottle. Your mementos will stay well-preserved.

For overnight trips, fill bags with single portions of shampoo and conditioner. Protect Q-tips and cotton balls from moisture, or stash powder compacts in bags to prevent spills in your purse.

Keep receipts handy and wrinkle-free. Corral keys, your phone, and loose change before hitting airport security. Store your car’s insurance card and registration in the glove compartment.

Snack-size bags are perfect for packing a weekend’s worth of jewelry. Bag silver jewelry to reduce tarnishing. Dedicate a bag to extra earring backs.

Carry a photo of a loved one with you at all times. Slip a favorite snapshot in a luggage tag and attach it to your key ring.

Store makeup brushes in an eyeglass case when you travel. That way, you won't spend 20 minutes looking for your blush brush.

To prevent a breakfast bar from becoming a breakfast crumble, stash it in an eyeglass or pencil case before throwing it in your bag.