How To Pack A Suitcase Properly

Your vacation can easily turn into disaster if you don't know how to pack a suitcase properly. If you're in the dark on where to start, don't worry, you're not alone! Each year, millions of travelers end up in serious trouble because they didn't pack their suitcases the right way. Don't let yourself be caught with your pants down (or even without pants for that matter)! Read on to learn how to pack a suitcase properly.

1. Assess if you really need it. To properly pack a suitcase, a rigorous strategy and iron will is a must. Do you really need six pairs of underwear for a three day trip? Think about where you're going, what you're going to be doing and how long you're going to be gone for. Make a list of the bare essentials you're going to need and stick to it.
2. Shirts go on the bottom. This is a good rule of thumb to remember when packing a suitcase properly. Fold your shirts with the sleeves in and along the waist to form a square (kind of like when you bought the shirt). Stack your folded shirts evenly across the bottom of your suitcase.
3. Pants go on top of shirts. The next step in properly packing a suit case is placing a folded bundle of pants on top of your shirts. To do this, lay your pants folded lengthwise on top of each other. Next, fold the stack in half and place it in your suitcase.
4. Socks, shoes and underwear. Put your socks in your shoes and place your shoes in individual plastic bags. Put these toward the edge of your suitcase. Underwear is easily compacted, so putting your skivvies in the side pockets is a recommended, properly packed suitcase space saver.
5. Place toiletries in a plastic bag. To keep your other wares from getting wet or soiled, pack all toiletries in a separate plastic bag and place it in a side pocket. Essentials-such as medication-should be packed in a smaller carry-on bag and taken on the plane.

Knowing how to pack a suitcase properly will save you hours of troublesome work and get you on your way faster. It'll also ensure that you'll be able to actually find the things that you did pack fairly easily when the time comes. Keep at it and remember, practice makes perfect!