Some people are pristine packers who dutifully Ziplock their toiletries, fold outfits together, and arrive at their destination with everything they need organized conveniently. Others are more haphazard, to say the least. If you’re in that second category, you’re surely familiar with the experience of getting somewhere, opening your bag, and finding that your clothes are covered in conditioner, moisturizer, or god-knows-what-else, thanks to the jostling of your bag and air pressure changes on the airplane.
You don’t have to completely overhaul your personality to find the kind of security pristine packers have. All you need to avoid a big mess on your next vacation is a common household item: plastic wrap.
Plastic wrap your toiletries
When packing your travel-sized bottles for a trip, grab some plastic wrap from the kitchen, Life Savvy suggests. Cut a small piece of cling wrap, unscrew the top of your bottle, wrap the plastic sheet around the opening, and re-secure the lid. This not only keeps liquid inside the bottle if air pressure causes the contents to expand, but adds a little extra grip for the lid to hold onto, too.
Some toiletries you might employ this method for are the following:
Shampoo and conditioner
Mouthwash
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Liquid foundation
Setting spray
Hair spray
Moisturizer
Cleanser
You get the idea here: If it has a lid, you should plastic wrap it. Those few minutes spent wrapping now could be the difference between arriving to your final destination exhausted or arriving exhausted and with a giant mess on your hands.
Oh, and don’t forget to pack extra plastic wrap for the return flight, either, because it would also suck to get home from a long trip only to find your stuff covered in goo.