How to pack a suitcase

Let me tell you a story about my friend Kelly (the name has been changed to protect the innocent).

Kelly was away at college, and it was time to fly home for Thanksgiving. She pulled her suitcase out from under the bed and froze. How do you pack a suitcase? How much liquid could go on an airplane? How many clothes was she going to need? What if she forgot to pack something?

Suddenly a trip home didn’t seem like such a fun idea. But Kelly knew she could do this. And you can too. Just follow these simple instructions.

1. Grab a piece of paper and a pen. It’s so much easier to feel confident when packing if you write things down and are organized. 

2. Write down how many days you are going to be gone. This will tell you how many pairs of clothes you need to pack.

3. Look at the weather where you are going. If you need cold weather clothes, write that down so you don’t forget to take a coat. If you need warm weather clothes, write that down so you don’t forget to pack a swimsuit.

4. Write down any special events or circumstances that will affect your clothing. For example, do you need clothes to attend church? Are you going skiing and need to take gloves and a beanie? Are you going to a concert or a formal dinner where you will wear a dress/tie? Are you taking family pictures while at home and need a particular color shirt?

5. Then make a list of the clothing you need to bring. Don’t forget the basics like pajamas and socks.

6. Now, look at your list and eliminate anything that you may have left at home. For example, if you remember that you have a dress/tie at home, you don’t need to pack one (unless it’s your lucky dress/tie and you can’t go anywhere without it). And you don’t need as many pairs of shoes as you think you do.

7. Collect the clothes and put them on your bed. You will want to group them into outfits. Put pants, shirt, underwear, and socks together. If there are pieces of clothing, such as jeans, that you will be wearing for more than one day, put them with the first outfit you plan to wear.

Side note: if you are going home, you can pack half the amount of clothes because you can do laundry while at home. This will save space in your suitcase. If you aren’t going home, make sure to pack for each day.

8. Start putting things in your suitcase. If you have packing cubes, they are great to use. If you don’t have packing cubes, it is no big deal. To keep things wrinkle-free, many people suggest rolling your clothes up. It saves space in your suitcase.

9. If you have a dirty clothes bag, bring it. Remember, your clothes won’t fit back into the same space unless you pack them the same way at the end of your vacation. I have found it helpful to bring a few gallon-size Ziplock baggies to put dirty underwear and socks in. It keeps the suitcase smelling good and you can compress it more easily. You can also use Ziplock baggies for shirts and wet swimsuits.

Now on to the toiletries.

You should make a list of all the toiletries you need, including hair styling items such as brushes, curling irons, flat irons, and hair dryer. Now collect everything you need. If you are going home, or someplace that has a fully furnished bathroom, you may not need to worry about some of the toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, or a hair dryer.

If you are flying and taking a carry-on, remember the 3-1-1 liquids rule. You are allowed 3.4-ounce or smaller-sized containers that fit in a 1-quart-sized, resealable bag in your carry-on. If you are checking your bag, you can have containers that are larger than 3.4 ounces. TSA 3-1-1 liquid rule

No matter what you do, ALWAYS put your toiletries into Ziplock baggies. There is nothing worse than getting someplace and finding shampoo all over your clothes. If you wear contacts, don’t forget your contact solution. And if you are going to the beach, don’t forget sunscreen. If you need travel-sized toiletries, you can find them in most stores near the pharmacy. They are also great because if you use them up while on vacation, you can throw them away and have extra space.

Once you have everything collected and, in your suitcase, look over your list to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything. Then make sure your suitcase closes and the zippers work.

You did it! You successfully packed a suitcase, and you did it like a pro. Now relax and have fun on your vacation.