7 Things to Help You Travel Wrinkle-Free

Always on the lookout for value-oriented travel, Senior Editor Patricia Magaña has trekked throughout the States, Latin America, and Europe. Follow her on Instagram @PatiTravels.

Since joining the editorial crew in 2005, Magaña has pounced on incredible deals to Amsterdam, Madrid, and San Pedro Sula—each for less than $300. Her favorite travel experiences involve discovering street art while meandering a city, chatting up locals, and day drinking.

Her stories have appeared on USA Today, Huffington Post, Yahoo!, TripAdvisor, AirfareWatchdog, and other publications.

Email Patricia at [email protected].

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Travel wrinkle-free while on the road with wrinkle-preventing tools like these, that won’t add much more weight to your bag.

Helpful Tips to Travel Wrinkle-Free

Arrive at your destination looking fresh and pressed, even on long travel days.

Portable Steam Iron

The Reliable Ovo 150 GT Portable Steam Iron weighs less than 2.5 pounds, yet is powerful enough to undo the stubbornest of creases. The Ovo is equipped with a water reservoir for spittle-less steaming and a ceramic-coated soleplate for ironing.

Downy Wrinkle Release

For light-packers that seek freshness on their wrinkle-free pursuits, spritz your crinkled clothes with an even coat of Downy Wrinkle-Release and ‘iron’ out the fabric with the palm of your hands. The pressure and light body heat will smooth out faint wrinkles.

This is the same principle as the popular steam shower tip, but with the added benefit of infusing that fresh-out-of-the-dryer scent. The Downy Wrinkle-Release is available in a TSA-approved travel size, as well as a home-sized version.

The most effective way to use the hand ‘iron’ method of maintaining wrinkle-free travel clothes—with wrinkle-release sprays or otherwise—is to hang your garment near in the bathroom while the shower is running. Apply pressure with your open palms to iron out those stubborn creases.

Garment Bags

To reduce wrinkles, you must reduce friction. Put that mantra into motion by protecting your wrinkle-prone pieces with lightweight garment bags. If you’re in a pinch, the plastic bags your clothes comes wrapped in when you pick them up at the dry cleaners will do.

Packing Cubes

Packing cubes can be a great tool for wrapping your clothes, a method of packing that helps prevent wrinkles. Also known as bundle rolling, you start with your most wrinkle-resistant items (think underwear and socks) at the center of your bundle, then working your way outward by wrapping wrinkle-prone pieces progressively added to the outer layers of the bundle. The idea is that the outer layers of the bundle will have fewer wrinkles. Keep your rolled bundles intact by zippering them inside a packing cube.

Packing Envelopes

Prefer to fold? Packing envelopes are perfect for button-down shirts, especially when your gear investment comes with a wrinkle-free garment folder.

Expandable Bag

Stuff your bag to the gills and you’re sure to arrive at your destination with crinkled contents. To reduce wrinkles effectively, alleviate the pressure on your travel wardrobe. Executive Editor Josh Roberts prefers the Briggs & Riley carry-on spinner because of its 22 percent greater expandability.

Spray Starch

If you’re still struggling to get the wrinkles out of your travel clothes, use a heavy hand of spray starch when ironing to give your clothes for that fresh-pressed look and feel.

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