10 packing hacks to keep your suitcase in check

I want you to know upfront I do not plan to tell you how to pack two weeks of clothes in a backpack. I can’t fathom how that is even possible. I check a bag for a weekend trip, so breathe a sigh of relief that I am not a packing minimalist.

Clothes shift a lot in transit and that could mean a disaster (and more work) when you open your suitcase back up. Subconsciously, I think this is why I tend to over pack. If my bag is full there’s no room for things to move around, right? Consequently, this is also why I sweat it out nearly every time I hoist my bag onto the scale at the airport.

There are a lot of tricks out there for maximizing space in your suitcase. Many people like to roll their clothes, and while it can help you fit more in your bag, the reality is if you don’t fold your clothes the right way before you roll them, they will unroll a complete wrinkled mess. I am a fan of laying clothes out long, folding, and packing them as flat as possible. I often have dresses or tops with pleats or sequins so rolling isn’t really an option for those items. I stick to rolling items like pajamas, tank tops and workout gear.

What I do love are plastic bags. Throw a few plastic dry cleaner bags and extra plastic grocery bags into your suitcase so you have them on hand. They are a very big part of my overall packing strategy.

Here I share 10 packing hacks that have helped me be more organized, pack more in my bag and get my dresses (and my husband’s suits) to our destinations virtually wrinkle free.

1. Waterproof your bag. I always lay plastic dry cleaner bags on the inside of my luggage. If my bag gets wet, or something leaks, the plastic bags protect my clothes. If you’re packing a raincoat, line the bottom of your suitcase with it to create a water resistant barrier.

2. Make use of dust covers and plastic grocery bags for shoes and dirty laundry. Many shoes and handbags come with dust covers. Use them to keep your dirty shoe bottoms off of your clothes. Plastic grocery bags work perfectly for this, too. I always pack a few extra so I have somewhere to store my dirty laundry.

3. Keep your cords together. If you’re like me, you’re packing a laptop, iPad and an iPhone, all of which have different chargers. I put all of my cords into a small Ziploc plastic bag and toss it in my carry-on. I never pack these in my checked bag. You never know when a delay could happen and you need to charge your devices.

4. Keep heavy items near the wheels of your suitcase. This distributes the weight better and makes your suitcase easier to roll. I always pack shoes on the wheels end of my bag. This also keeps that extra weight off of your clothes so they don’t end up smashed at the bottom.

5. Use plastic dry cleaner bags to fold your delicate clothes. Fold cotton, silk and linen items that can wrinkle easily with a plastic bag. I lay a dry cleaner bag flat on my bed and then lay a dress or blouse on top of the bag. I fold the item like I normally would, folding the bag with it. This really does keep wrinkles to a minimum. Make sure you hang your clothes as soon as you arrive to your destination and any light wrinkles should fall out by morning.

6. Stuff your shoes (or boots) to help them keep their shape. Your shoes are unused space, so stuff them with socks, underwear, belts, rolled up tank tops, etc. You’ll save room in your bag and keep your shoes, especially dressier shoes, from getting creased or smashed.

7. Box your button downs. Guys, get your button downs boxed or at least professionally folded at the dry cleaner. This will save you time, space and will give you minimal wrinkles. My husband always has his shirts pressed and folded before we travel. He unfolds them when he arrives and any wrinkles are minimal and typically fall out by morning.

8. Keep pleats in place with plastic clips. Pleated skirts and dresses are some of the trickier items to pack. To keep a fully pleated skirt looking sharp, lay it flat or fold in half lengthwise, between dry cleaner bags toward the bottom of your bag. If you have an accordion pleat on a dress, go to your local dry cleaner and ask for a few of the plastic clips they use on men’s shirts. Start at the top of the pleat and clip every inch or two until you get to the bottom. Then, fold your dress using dry cleaner bags. Your pleat will come out perfect every time.

9. Stop toiletries from leaking with plastic wrap. Too many times, I’ve opened my bag to find my shampoo or hair gel has leaked all over the inside of my toiletry bag. To combat this, I unscrew the bottles and put a small piece of Glad Press and Seal (or regular plastic wrap) over the opening and then screw the lid back on. No more leaks!

10. Travel with a small bottle of wrinkle release spray like Downy Wrinkle Releaser. While this spray won’t work as well on heavy creases, it works wonders on any stubborn light wrinkles that don’t fall out after you hang your clothes overnight.

Have a favorite packing hack? Tweet it to me at @StellaShops and @12thBroad. Happy packing and safe travels!

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Carla Antonelli justified her shoe and handbag addiction by starting her blog,Stella Shops, which talks about all things fashion and style and where to find it in Nashville's best local boutiques. When she's not shopping, blogging about shopping or Instagramming photos of her two pugs, Mingus and Lula, you'll find her doing all things marketing and strategery at TN Media . Other vices include Cab Franc, gin martinis, triple cream brie and anything with dark chocolate. Carla lives in Hillsboro Village.