Packing expert reveals clever ways to fit even more in your suitcase this summer

ONE in three travelers admits they have no idea how to pack a suitcase efficiently.

A survey of 2,000 people revealed that 26% resorted to sitting on their suitcase to close it and 11% faced penalties due to the weight of their luggage.

As a result, more than half (56 percent) suffered a packaging disaster, such as broken zippers (21 percent) and leaking toiletries (20 percent).

Another packaging frustration is wrinkled clothes, with 64% willing to do anything to prevent their clothes from getting wrinkled during travel.

And 76 percent would “love it” if they could unpack their bags and not find anything that needed ironing.

In response to the findings, Lenor Crease Releaser, who commissioned the research, worked with former A Place in the Sun presenter and packaging expert, Danni Menzies, to share her top tips for making smart packaging.

Danni said: “When preparing for your summer holidays, packing effectively can make all the difference and make everything run much more smoothly.

“After years of traveling, I’ve learned a lot of packing tricks along the way.

“My top tips include packing a capsule wardrobe so certain items can be worn again and again and using vacuum-packed bags to create more space.

“Rolling clothes can also be a great way to save space and avoid wrinkled clothes.”

The study also found that 37% actively avoid packing certain clothes because they can wrinkle.

For 61 percent of these, simply not wanting to iron on vacation is the most common reason (61 percent).

Followed by the desire to look good while traveling (38 percent) and having too many bad experiences with wrinkled clothes in the past (26 percent).

It also turned out that half of adults are the “as long as it’s in there” type – who don’t have much order, but at least try to fold or roll their clothes before putting them away.

While nine percent describe their packing personality as a “panic thrower” – someone who leaves it until the last minute, throwing everything into their suitcase without paying attention.

Conducted via OnePoll, the study also found that 13% spend more than an hour searching for items and filling out their cases before leaving.

Of those who try to keep clothes somewhat presentable when packing them, 52% choose to roll them and not fold them.

While 11% go as far as vacuum packing things in specific divider bags inside their boxes.

The survey also found that 31 percent find packing their suitcase more stressful when they leave than remembering to lock the house (28 percent) or catch a transfer on time (24 percent).

But 56 percent always seem to carry too much, with 36 percent likely to only use up to 69 percent of what they brought.

And 45% always pack their bags much more carefully on the way to vacation – and 26% simply put everything away without worrying, on the trip back.

Nina Lumsden of Lenor Crease Releaser, who has more tips and tricks on her @the.laundry.hub, Instagram and TikTok channels, added: “Even if you’re the most experienced packer, often when you take your clothes out on the other side they are creased beyond recognition.

“When we’re enjoying our vacations, no one wants to do household chores like ironing.”

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