How to Prevent Wrinkles on the Road

While creases are a common consequence of stuffing shirts and pants into a suitcase for hours on end, that doesn’t mean you need to consign yourself to the ironing board the moment you arrive at your hotel. In 4 Signs You Have a Packing Problem, we recommend the following tips for avoiding wrinkles:

“Before your trip, lay your clothes out ahead of time to make sure you have everything you need — but don’t actually put them into your bag until shortly before you’re ready to depart. That way you’ll minimize the time they spend scrunched up in your suitcase. On the other end of your trip, be sure to hang up your clothes as soon as you arrive in your hotel. (If they’re looking a little rumpled, hang them in the bathroom while you take a shower — the hot, moist air will relax away most minor wrinkles.)”

Letting your clothes hang out while you shower is almost as effective as ironing — but with a lot less work for you.

To further ward off wrinkles, choose your clothing wisely. Linen and cotton garments are most prone to creases; animal fibers (like wool) and synthetic fabrics (nylon, polyester) are less so. And knitted garments tend to fare better than woven ones. These days, travel supply companies like Magellan’s and TravelSmith offer wrinkle-resistant clothing in a wide range of styles and prices.

Tell us how you keep your clothes wrinkle-free in the comments below — and don’t forget to check out our solutions to the 5 Worst Packing Problems.