Travel Tuesday - Ziploc’s

Ziploc’s are great travel tools.  Not only are they good for organizing smaller items, like Q-tips and keeping items that might leak from getting all over but you can also utilize them when you go through security and to organize and keep your suitcase clean.

Do you carry a lot of small items in your pockets? Wear items with lots of metal? Keys, cell phone, jewelry, belts, money clips can all easily fit into a large Ziploc (remember to keep the cell phone away from things with magnetic strips like card keys.)  While you are standing in line take these items and put them in a large Ziploc. Then when it is time to put your items in those TSA bins it is all in a bag that you can place in the bin.  And for a bonus you won’t be wasting time scooping each item out of the bin individually on the other side while everyone is waiting behind you.

Do you travel with a lot of electronics?  Computers, iPods, cameras, cell phones all seem to have different cords for various functions (though the trend these days is that more items can share cords.) You can put each cord in a small Ziploc to prevent them from getting tangled up with something else.

Panty hose are also an item that should be put in a Ziploc, to help prevent them from getting snags from zippers or other items. If you are packing shoes put them in a large Ziploc this will keep them from rubbing any dirt that maybe on them on to the inside of your suitcase.

Use a Ziploc to make a small emergency kit that you keep in your suitcase, some bandages, triple-antibiotic ointment, tweezers, alcohol, acetaminophen and/or Ibuprofen and other small items that you might find useful like moleskin and a small scissors if you are planning on doing a lot of walking on your trip.

If you don’t have anything that could be put in a Ziploc stick some empty ones in your suitcase anyway, you won’t miss the space that they take up.  They can be used for making an ice pack, or you can inflate some and use them as a substitute for bubble wrap.  You never know you could get caught in the rain and have some wet clothes to pack!