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Tips To Pack A Suitcase With Perfection

Traveling generally involves packing a suitcase. You should check the weather for you destination to ensure you pack the right clothing. Packing a few warm pieces of clothing is a good idea for rainy, overcast or cool days. The tips below should help you pack your suitcase beautifully.

The List

Plan an outfit for each day of your trip. Mixing and matching different pieces always works well. Adding extra socks and underwear is a good idea. Once you know what you will be taking make a list of all the items. Cross off each item as it is packed to make sure you don't discover you missed something vital once you have arrived at your hotel. Take a carry on with a set of clothing, your prescriptions, wallet, toothbrush, passport, etc. This will protect you if your luggage is lost or misplaced.

Bottoms First

Bulky or heavy items should always be at the bottom of your suitcase. This includes boots, shoes, hairdryers, etc. You can also maximize your space by packing items such as glasses, belts, gloves, socks and jewelry into packed purses, boots and shoes. Once you have finished packing your heavier items use the spaces in between for items like bathing suits and socks. an>

Folding Items

Most people believe they can save space by rolling their clothing. This actually wastes space. Folded items take up less room and remain nice and flat. The first layer above your heavier items should be the thickest fabrics. This includes sweaters, jackets, woolen skirts, khakis and jeans. Leave a little gap in the center of your suitcase as you pack. This is for your toiletry bag. The gaps left around the edges should be used for a book, hairbrush, etc.

Personal Care Products

Personal care products and fragile items should be in a padded, fabric case. This should be placed in the middle of your luggage so the items can be protected by your clothing. Items such as candy boxes and cosmetics require this extra protection. Use freezer bags with zippers for colognes, perfumes and creams in case of accidental leakage. Any gels or liquids should be in a travel size container inside of a clear plastic bag.

The Upper Layer

The layer on the very top of your suitcase should contain delicate and lightweight fabrics that have a tendency to wrinkle. This includes silk, satin and thin cotton. Extra care should be provided for items such as silk blouses and shirts. Wrapping these items in tissue paper will prevent them from becoming damaged. Then place them between sturdy pieces of clothing for added protection. This works well for delicate dresses or suits. If your luggage has a front piece with a garment bag this is where your most delicate clothing should be packed.

The Return Trip

Make sure you have a copy of your list of items for when you are packing for your return trip. Cross off your items again as you pack to ensure you have not forgotten something in your hotel. You should leave your expensive jewelry at home when you travel. If you are planning to take expensive jewelry either wear the pieces or place them in a travel belt you are planning to wear. When you arrive your jewelry should be kept in the room safe in your hotel.

Preparing Your Vehicle for the Colder Weather

When the weather takes a turn for the worst, those extreme conditions in the weather can really make us quite scared and even in fear for our safety. When exposed to them for long periods of time, it can even prove fatal. For example, when it’s seriously hot out, sweating happens, which means we need to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. And when it comes to the cold, things can be worse. No longer is the temperature extreme just uncomfortable--it’s dangerous. And we eventually begin to lose feeling in our extremities, which is when frostbite can occur and your body can begin to shut down. So, having proper gear is extremely important when the weather turns freezing. This means making sure not only you and your home are ready for the winter but also your car.

What can be a burden about this is that a lot of the appropriate gear needed in these situations can be quite costly. From snow boots and gloves to insulated tents, sleeping bags, clothing, and materials for your vehicle on the road, your expenses can begin to rack up just preparing for cold weather. However, what if I said that a common, everyday material would suffice as insulation? What if it was something that was free, abundant, and unexpected?

Corrugated cardboard is your answer. Since it has pockets of air within its walls, it makes quite an amazing insulator. You may be padding your car with it, which would be smart in extreme conditions where you’re stuck and have to wait for help. So having cardboard in your vehicle in case the need arises is extremely smart for your safety. Similarly, you can use it in your vehicle if you had to sleep in it on a long road trip, as it’ll do some good to keep a vehicle warm after the heater and vehicle have been turned off. So not only do extreme weather conditions apply here.

It’s important to remember another essential thing you need stocked in your vehicle: food. I don’t care whether I only have some fruit cups, non perishable canned foods, or mere candy boxes in my vehicle, something is good to have in extreme emergencies (though maybe candy boxes aren’t the most nutritious choice haha). You just have got to have some sort of food on hand when you may need it. Water is a bit trickier since it could freeze in extreme conditions.