How to Use packing cubes to save space and Do Less Laundry
Traveling MidLife finding bargains and luxuries in equal measure!
I’m That Pilot Wife Lady sharing all things travel & filling this second act sharing all travel tips, fashion, + safety to make your next trip better than the last!
💖Andrea
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packing cubes are Spanx for A suitcase | Squeeze It All In
Th secret to traveling with a carry-on bag isn’t what to pack, it’s the HOW to pack. And, I’m letting it outta the bag today😉
How to use packing cubes to stuff just a fewwww more pieces…
{usually shoes, mostly shoes, for me actually}.
If you like fashion, love shoes, + need mix-n-match choices when you travel then you’ll also appreciate my Spanx approach to packing with cubes.
I’m not an official partner with Spanx, but maybe I should pitch it to management! 🤩
I’ve been traveling in a carry-on suitcase + personal item bag for 25+ years as That Pilot Wife Lady. It’s also the best way to add extra hours into your trip, skipping the baggage carousel, and get to the good part!🎶
When you squeeze each outfit into a cube and zip it up you’ll have everything planned and ready to wear once you arrive.
I have a library full of packing hack videos across my YouTube, TIKTOK, and Instagram.
Sometimes I pack with all of my packing cubes, a few cubes, or maybe just one that has my spare outfit that trip.
That’s HOW VERSITILE THEY ARE!
It’s a squeeze-it & forget-it way to pack for every trip from this post forward!
packing cube genius | organize my life
…and keep my dirties separate from my cleans on the way home
How do you Pack your suitcase?
Pack each outfit together so you can grab, dress & go
Pack in a grid {Sudoku} style to mix-n-match outfit pieces
Countdown packing:: 5-4-3-2-1 Method
What is this word, “organize” that you keep typing?
With or without packing cubes organizing your suitcase saves oodles of time.
That’s more time relaxing, hiking, wine tasting, dining, or walking in circles through the Colosseum in Rome.
How to use packing cubes outfit-style
I used to pack this way so I could be dressed and ready before my kids were up. Because we all know when the Littles wake they are ready to run for the fun on a trip.
If you like to pack this way then you’re packing your trip pieces head-to-toe, laying them out, and roll-um together. Using the packing cubes you have a cube for each days outfit. Viola!
When you arrive at your Airbnb or hotel you have a cube for each day laid out and ready. Grab your iced tea, your latest book and relax on the patio!
Packing Tip::
Rolling + folding your clothes instead of folding alone, or scrunching in a ball {my son’s method of madness}, uses less space in your suitcase.
With or without packing cubes.
This topic gets pretty heated somtimes:: To roll - To fold - To use packing cubes
I’ve tested all and many times over. HOWEVER, the BEST PACKING METHOD for your suitcase is the packing style that packs best for YOU!
Packing cubes in categories
This is my preferred packing cube organization since my Little’s aren’t little anymore and I can decide that morning what I feel like wearing.
I layout all the days + a one extra in tops, bottoms, shoes, scarves, socks, panties, bras, and accessories and pack each category in a cube. All the pieces I’ve packed are interchangeable so I can mix-n-match for any changes, or flashes {midlife hormone flash attacks}.
keep it tidy | why to use packing cubes
When you use packing cubes you’ll keep everything neat-n-tidy on your vacation and it solves that strange phenomenon of,
“How did my clothes grow and my suitcase turn into a shrinky-dink on this trip?”
Roll all the dirty up and put into your biggest cube {no tidiness required this time ;) }
Use one cube as your laundry bag and when you’re home, drop it in the laundry room {unpacking dream}
the Down and dirty using packing cubes
Re-packing with cubes for the trip home saves you that dreaded unpacking time because you’ve dropped outfits into the laundry bag/cube, shoes are in their cube, and ditto for toiletries.
Each bag is dropped into place and not going back and forth distributing your suitcase contents one-by-one.
Packing cubes vs compression cubes
If you’re just starting out with packing cubes go with easy packing and buy the double-option.
My packing cubes above have the option to keep wide or an extra zip to tighten things up. You can pack for Winter trips as if you’re going to Mount Everest, using the compression option.
Stuff it
Squeeze it
Sit your tush on top, and starting zipping 😁
Also helps to leave a little extra space in the cube if compression zipping
Cube Tip::
Buy a cube set with the mesh covering on top for quick peeksy of what’s in each one.
Biddity - Bobbity - fewwwww
Packing is done!
You’re ready for adventure, relaxing, beach life, exploring the alley’s of London…
Related Travel posts to use your new packing cubes::
How about you…an outfit or category kind of packer?
💖xo AndreaWriter of the Weekly Traveling MidLife Newsletter
Verified over-packer since 1995
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