If you were listening to Darren on 2fm’s The Gerry Ryan Show during the week you’ll have heard him describe the best methods of  packing for your holidays. Packing a suitcase is a strategic exercise in maximizing space and minimizing wrinkles. There are several different ‘methods’ which he discussed and below are the main points which will help you make the most of your available space and avoid the dreaded ironing board while on holidays!

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INDIVIDUALLY FOLDING
The common practice of individually folding items of clothing, then stacking them atop one another is just about the worst thing you can do resulting in folds and creases. It also allows movement and rubbing of the garments, which also produces wrinkles. It doesn’t make the best use of space.

ROLLING
The trick of rolling clothes is just that a trick! While rolling reduces the number of folds in clothes it actually increases wrinkling. So for crease free traveling it’s not the best option. That said, it is a good method at maximizing space and quite probably the best option if you’re traveling with a backpack.

BUNDLE WRAPPING or the ‘Onion Effect’ (my personal favourite!)

As the name suggests, bundle wrapping involves the careful wrapping of clothes around a central core object, thus avoiding the folds that result in creases…think of creating an onion with your clothes. Here’s how to do it;

  1. Use a small bag or rolled pair of shorts to form the core of the bundle.
  2. Then start by layer the first item out flat on a table or other flat surface and layer the other items one by one. Always start with the largest items such as jackets or shirts.
  3. Smooth everything out carefully, eliminating any wrinkles or creases.
  4. Layer shirts and the like in an alternative “up and down” fashion (to maintain an even thickness)
  5. Trousers and most skirts alternate “left and right” (creating a cross shape)
  6. When all items are layered one on top of the other, place the core on top, forming the centre of the bundle. Now work your way back down the clothing stack, wrapping each piece around the slowly growing bundle before moving on to the next item….you’ll see your onion start to grow!
  7. Less easily wrinkled items ideally will be closer to the core.
  8. When your bundle is complete, place it in your case and viola!

It might sound time consuming but once you’ve done it once, you should be able to create your bundle in a couple of minutes.

Always try unpacking and hanging your clothes upon arrival at your hotel or accommodation to avoid any unnecessary creases and need to iron! Another advantage of this approach is that it reduces the overall volume of your packed clothing to a considerably smaller size than simply folding.

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