Whether you’re heading out on vacation or packing for a work trip, the last thing you want to worry about when you reach your destination is a suitcase full of wrinkly clothes. Unfortunately, when you pack everything up tightly and your luggage gets tossed around while traveling, your clothes can get bunched up, causing a wrinkled-up mess when you unpack.
Thankfully, when you know how to pack clothes so they don’t wrinkle, you’ll be able to head to a nice restaurant on the first night of your vacation or prepare for that important business meeting while looking your best after you land.
Knowing how to pack without wrinkles isn’t rocket science—with a few tips and tricks, you can enjoy wrinkle-free clothes every time you travel.
Choose the Right Fabric
One of the easiest ways to avoid having to iron your clothes when you get to your destination is to pay attention to fabrics. Certain fabrics, like cotton and linen, tend to wrinkle quite easily. Other fabrics are highly resistant to wrinkles, so you can stack and pack them without worrying about them looking messy or sloppy when you’re ready to wear them.
Some of the best wrinkle-resistant fabrics include:
- Denim
- Polyester
- Cashmere
- Wool
- Spandex
- Knit
If you can’t find clothes made entirely from these fabrics, look for a blend. For example, some shirts are made with 65% polyester. While they might not be completely wrinkle-resistant, they’ll be much easier to keep wrinkle-free than a traditional cotton top.
Roll Your Clothes
If you’re trying to pack a lot of clothes into your suitcase, you might think stacking them is the best way to go. But those who know how to pack clothes so they don’t wrinkle will always tell you that rolling is best!
Rolling your clothes tightly will make them less likely to wrinkle. They won’t get jostled around as much, there won’t be any creases, and as a bonus—you can pack more things! This technique works really well on smaller items like tank tops, t-shirts, and workout clothes. It’s also great for delicate fabrics because they’re less likely to snag in your suitcase.
Utilize Packing Folders
When you’re in the office and want to keep a stack of documents nice and neat, you probably put it in a folder. You can do the same with your clothes.
Packing folders are designed to keep a stack of clothes safe, secure, and relatively wrinkle-free while you’re traveling. There are different sizes and varieties, but they all work the same way: you: fold your clothes, stack them in the folder, and close the top of the folder before putting the whole thing in your suitcase.
This method keeps all of your clothes snug and secure in one place. There’s less movement and jostling, so they won’t get as wrinkled. Plus, they’ll be protected if anything else in your suitcase spills—especially something from your cosmetics or toiletry bag!
Stack With Tissue Paper
You might only use tissue paper around the holidays when you’re wrapping gifts, but you should invest in a lot more of it if you’re a frequent traveler.
If you don’t want to use the roll method to pack your clothes, you can stack them with a sheet of tissue paper between each garment. This helps by reducing friction. If your clothes get jostled around, the fabrics won’t rub against each other and cause wrinkles. It can also help to prevent snagging and pilling, so it’s perfect for dress shirts or even suit jackets.
What to Do if Your Clothes Wrinkle
Even if you know how to pack without wrinkles, you might still end up with a pesky cotton shirt or two that always seems to get bunched up in your suitcase. So, it’s important to know how to get wrinkles out of clothes once you’ve reached your destination.
The easiest way is to travel with a portable steamer. If you can make room in your suitcase, bringing a steamer with you will make quick work of getting rid of wrinkles!
If you don’t have room for a steamer, try a hotel hair dryer. Mist your garment lightly with water or hang it in a steamy bathroom. Then, use the hairdryer by pointing it toward the creases and gently tugging so the combination of heat and steam smooths things out—just make sure not to get the dryer too close to the fabric.
If you’re still looking for how to get wrinkles out of clothes and you don’t want to carry anything bulky with you, try a wrinkle remover spray. They’re small, easy to fit in a suitcase, and couldn’t be easier to use. Simply hang up your garment, give it a spritz, and gently tug on the fabric. While it might not give your clothes an iron-pressed look, it will remove enough creases to make you look presentable and put together.
The next time you head out on a trip, keep these tips in mind for how to pack clothes so they don’t wrinkle. When you arrive at your destination, you’ll have one less thing to worry about, and you can start to enjoy your time away from home that much sooner.
