Thanksgiving is the most traveled holiday for Americans. We’ve all heard this for years, and as I write this post Siri confirms it is indeed still true. So, there you have it! Millions of us will be traveling this Thanksgiving holiday.
As a lover of travel, it is extremely odd when encountering someone who does not appreciate travel in the same manner we do. They fear the takeoff, the landing, the bustling airport traffic, the cramped quarters is economy; or for many, its the packing. How do we pack what we need in hopes of it arriving safely to our destination and preferable wrinkle-free? Don’t fear! We have a few tips that may assist in keeping you wrinkle-free on your travels this holiday season.
- Luggage selection is key. It is prudent to use a hard shell suitcase versus a soft side suit case or backpack.
- Select your clothes wisely. Cotton, linen and silk are a few fabrics that do not generally travel well. Consider polyester, nylon and lycra.
- Packing cubes are fantastic; but not all of us have cubes at our disposal.
- Rolling your garments versus folding is essential to assist in keeping most garments wrinkle-free. It also assists with space constraints. Take your time with the process. Your jeans, light jackets, t-shirts and many sweaters and sweatshirts should be rolled tightly and packed together tightly. However, you don’t want to roll your delicate fabrics too tightly. This can increase your chance of wrinkles.
- Suits, tuxedos and wedding dresses will travel best in a garment bag. A tuxedo retailer, wedding dress shop or dry cleaner might be able to assist in obtaining a garment bag for you, if you do not have one.
- Pack heavier items at the bottom of your suitcase. Most suitcases are divided in half and heavier items should be packed on the bottom of each side of the suitcase. If your suit case has a mesh side, we recommend placing your shoes and toiletries in this section while using the other section with the compression straps for your clothing.
- Always use the compression straps to prevent you clothes from moving and reduce the chance of wrinkles.
- Don’t overstuff your suitcase. This will increase the chances of having wrinkles.
- Unpack when you arrive. I know! I know! Some of you are bulking at the thought of unpacking when you arrive; or unpacking period. However, if you want to work towards traveling wrinkle-free, its a essential step.
Holiday travel can be hectic. Hopefully, these few tips will get you to your destination without the wrinkles. If not, you can always reach out to a local dry cleaner. Most dry cleaners like Collegiate Cleaners, offer a press only option for those who need to get the wrinkle out.
