Packing with Zippy Bags

[Queen of Oakville]

Not sure if this has been posted here or not ...

I do all my packing in zippy bags (not just liquid items). I learned this on a Disney board a few years ago. It was supposed to be just for the chidlren ..., but I do it for myself too.

I lay out all my outfits completely on the bed, plannign a casual and formal outfit for each day. In this pile, I make sure I have any jewellery or undergarments. If an item is being shared, I place a small note such as "wear with white pants" if the white pants are being worn on more than one night. For my daughter, I will include any hair clips that match her outfit. For both kids, we go through each outfit, making sure they like the outfit and this avoids hassles later on.

Once I know my packign is complete; I roll up the items and place in a zippy bag (small bags work for kids outfits, and large bags for mine). I also label the bag with a sharpie. For a Disney trip, I might use a label such as "Day 2- Animal Kingdom". For a cruise, I might label it "Day 2" since I know that day 2 is a excursion day and I've picked clothes appropriate for the excursion.

Once the item is in the bag, I squeeze out all the air, then pop it in a suitcase.

I like a few things about this method of packing ....

• it ensures I haven't forgotten anything to go with an outfit
• the bags with the air squeeze out if them, take less room in a suitcase
• it eliminates digging through a suitcase trying to put together an outfit
• for kids, it eliminates the decision work since the outfits are already pre-selected and pre-approved.

[Queen of Oakville]

I forgot to add, that "yes" some of the items will wrinkle. Depending on your fabrics, the wrinkles may fall out once hung.

I'm (as you can tell) of the more an*l variety. As soon as our luggage arrives, I set to work with my little travel steamer. The items are steamed and hung on a hanger. The undergarments, jewellery etc. are left on the zippy bag, the bag is pierced, and the bag is threaded through the neck of the hanger and hung in the closet.

For the kids, stuff, I usually just hang all of their stuff (as above) and do a general quick steam of the closet. I find with kid's clothes, the wrinkles fall out much more easily. It doesn't take me more than an hour to steam through the whole family's clothes.

[LisaK]

thats a great idea, especially with kids. I use the bags for socks, undies & t-shirts

[IED Hunter]

I do that whenever I pack - whether for the Army, just travelling, or going on a cruise. As you said, it cuts down a lot on the guesswork, and takes a lot less room in the suitcase/backpack/duffel bag.

I started doing this years ago when a buddy of mine and I were on a business trip. He had a bottle of cologne that leaked in his suitcase. From that day on, everything liquid has gone into it's own ziplock bag, and everything else gets it's own larger bag!

[AF1]

I like the new space bags that you vacuum the air out. They are good for three maybe four times; but they compress nicely in suitcase and rollerboard.

[Henry43]

We pack the same way we did 40 years ago ,no problems ever

[ArabianHorseLover]

Wow! Some people are so organized! Great idea.

[Fern]

Originally Posted by Henry43

We pack the same way we did 40 years ago ,no problems ever

We do, too! I tried the "bundle" method once, but when I wanted something in the middle it pretty much ruined my "bundle" !

I guess if you have certain outfits where you always wear the same things together, the baggie method would be very helpful. I never know until I'm ready to dress what I'm going to wear !

[BlueCanary]

Another advantage to the baggie method is that it keeps the TSA from touching your actual stuff for the most part (if you're flying). If they open the bag, they're just moving the baggies around instead of pawing through your actual clothes. I always put my underclothes in bags for that reason. I don't care if someone touches my jeans, but I do care if a stranger touches my delicates.