Our 10 Best Packing Hacks of All Time
Over the years, Real Simple editors have discovered dozens of clever space-saving packing tricks. From using a straw as a jewelry detangler to stuffing socks right inside the shoes you'll wear with them, these little packing tips make efficient use of a carry-on bag or suitcase. Save these hacks for your next summer vacation, and you'll be surprised how easily and quickly you're ready to jet-set.
1 Plastic Straw as a Necklace De-Tangler
When jewelry shifts around during a flight, you end up with tangled necklaces by the time you arrive at your destination. 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.
2 Use a Hair Elastic to Bundle Tights
If you're packing stockings or tights for your trip, roll up each pair and secure them with a hair elastic. They'll stay bundled and take up less space in your carry-on.
3 Store Socks Inside Shoes
To pack as efficiently as possible, consider every inch of space—even the inside of shoes. Roll up socks and stash them inside the dress shoes or sneakers you're most likely to wear with them.
4 Stash Shoes Inside a Shower Cap
To keep the dirt on the bottom of your shoes from dirtying the clothes in your suitcase, wrap a shower cap around each pair.
5 Pillowcase as Lingerie Bag
Pack undergarments inside a spare pillow case, so you'll know where to find your intimates when you go to get dressed.
6 Contact Case as Pill Box
When traveling, eliminate clunky bottles for nonprescription meds from your purse by popping the pills into a contact lens case.
Note: This is not a childproof method for storing your pills. Don't try this if you have small children who rummage through your purse.
7 Fold Tissues Inside a Peppermint Tin
When lost inside your purse, those spare tissues you packed end up getting grimy. Instead, fold a few tissues and store them inside a protective peppermint tin.
8 Turn a Down Jacket into an Airplane Pillow
If you're packing a down jacket for a cold weather adventure, roll it up and secure with rubber bands. Then stash the jacket inside a clean pillow case so it can double as an airplane pillow. Brilliant!
9 Grab an Oven Mitt for a Heat Guard
Bringing along a curling iron or a hair straightener? Slip these hair styling tools inside an oven mitt. The heat-resistant mitt will serve as a heat guard on the bathroom counter at the hotel, and you can stash the curling iron inside the mitt if you need to pack up while it's still warm.
