Don’t despair if you forget to pack your travel iron. There is a secret
weapon to getting wrinkles out of clothes- steam them in the shower. Here’s
what you do: hang your clothing in the bathroom, turn on the hot water in the
shower and close the door. The water needs to get really hot (borderline
scalding so beware!) and give out a lot of steam to get rid of the creases. The
worse the creases, the longer you should leave it in the bathroom. Afterwards
hang the item outside of the bathroom in order for it to air-dry for
approximately ten minutes.
What about toiletries?
Toiletry bag
It all begins with the perfect toiletries bag. Look for a case that is open
and has plenty of clear pouches so your items are easily visible (and therefore
simpler to find when the time comes). Buy a case that wipes off easily (inside
and out) if something should get spilled. Avoid bags with fabric lining if at
all possible and make sure you purchase one that is water-resistant.
Like with like
Keep like items together (in other words, keep your tube of toothpaste in a
separate pouch/slot from your mascara and lipstick). Buy a good-sized bag that
can hold extras such as a bathing suit, underwear, a pair of pantyhose, etc.
Bags that come with handles are the most convenient for traveling but double
check to make sure that the zippers work properly because unzipped toiletries
equal one big mess!
Little hints
Pack trial size bottles where possible as they take up less space. Another
idea is to use the small plastic containers that 35 mm film comes in. They are
handy for so many things including hand lotion, hydrogen peroxide, earrings,
sunscreen, and so on. Leave flip top containers and aerosol cans at home. If
you decide to invest in small, clear plastic bottles (for items such as shampoo
and conditioner) don’t fill them anymore than two-thirds full to avoid
overflow. This is especially important if you are flying. For an added
precaution, wrap each bottle in a plastic grocery bag before packing. Hair gel
travels better than mousse (as mousse is under pressure). If you can switch
just for the duration of your trip it would be a wise idea to leave the mousse
at home. If you can go without a blow dryer, do so. Many hotels provide them
for guests.