Cramming clothes into a suitcase for hours on end is sure to result in some wrinkling…and really, who wants to arrive in a new destination and end up stuck in the room ironing? Let alone on one of those tiny hotel room ironing boards!
For business travelers, those “no iron” shirts and pants usually pack quite well. Stores like Banana Republic and the Gap usually carry items like these.
Knits or anything with stretch are great options because they tend to keep their shape and this prevents it from wrinkling when the item is packed.
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Another way to avoid wrinkles is not necessarily what you pack, but how you pack it. Instead of folding clothing items that you would never put into a drawer at home, try loosely rolling them instead. Doing this is gentler on clothes and is also a great space saver. Another great option is to roll them in dry cleaning bags. The plastic reduces the friction that causes the wrinkles.
Once you arrive, take 5 minutes to unpack and hang up your clothes. The downward pull of hanging items should loosen the more subtle wrinkles. If you still want to avoid that hotel iron, you can turn the hotel bathroom into a make shift steam room. Hang the garment in a place that it won’t get wet, plug the tub and turn the shower on and make it as hot as possible. Shut the door and leave the water going for about 5 minutes. The room will get steamy and remove the wrinkles from the item. You can turn the water off and leave your clothing in the steamy bathroom for at least 15 minutes. The wrinkles should be gone. I like to use this trick when I’m getting ready to go out.
A final option you can consider trying is packing a wrinkle release spray like Downy Wrinkle Releaser. It is available in a travel size bottle. Simply spray the clothing and then shake it or pull gently to release the wrinkles.
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