How to pack a suitcase

As I am sure you are all aware by now I have my dream holiday coming up next year to Florida. One of the things I am going to optimise is luggage. I will not be taking any clothes with me because I am going on a mega shopping spree while I am over there as clothes are so cheap!  So I am writing you a guide on how to pack your suitcase to get the most out of your space.

Prioritize, prioritize and prioritize. To avoid ironing on your trip you'll want to keep clothes in perfect, crease-free condition. The best way to do this is to pack effectively and work with the space you have. No matter how good your packing skills you should always remember to wear your bulkiest items, if you need a jacket or coat wear/carry it while you travel. If you’re taking more than one pair of shoes wear the heavier pair.

 

Layer items eg begin with a skirt folded over the bar of a hanger, and then hang a top on the hanger. A shirt can go over that, and a jacket over the shirt.

Overlapping is a fine art- it is important not to fold any item too many times. To keep delicate clothes from wrinkling, fold them around padded items like jumpers and woolly cardigans. Place the top half of a pair of jeans in your suitcase, place a jumper over that, and fold the legs up over the jumper.

My favourite method of packing is rolling. You can roll more than one item together at once eg a strap top, on top of a t-shirt with a cardigan on top. Make use of those corners- curve rolled items into the corners. This method is also great for trousers, jeans and shorts.

To avoid lotion explosion fill travel-size plastic bottles partway, or if using full sized items squeeze out excess air. Then double-bag them, first in a cosmetics bag or resalable food bag, then in a carrier bag. Everyone knows this but stuff shoes with underwear and socks etc

If you run out of room here is a quick tip to give you a little more space: Drop the bag/case on the floor a few times, open it -- things will have settled, and you'll find extra room.