Packing for a trip can be a daunting prospect. These travel tips for packing luggage should make the process easier.

Packing Luggage

• Make your own personalized packing list. Everyone's packing needs are different, so each member of your travel group should have his or her own list. You may want to put the lists on your refrigerator and add new items over the course of several days.
• Use clear food-storage bags for items such as underwear, socks, T-shirts, and toiletries. This will help you stay organized and allow you to find items more quickly. Squeeze the air of the bags to make more room in your luggage.
• Pack clothes that lend themselves to being hand washed and air dried. If you can hand wash your clothes in your hotel room, you can get by with packing fewer clothes.
• Purchase an outlet voltage/plug converter if you're traveling abroad, because the electric current in wall outlets may not be compatible with your electronic devices. (Be aware that lower-priced converters may not be able to power devices such as hair dryers and curling irons.)

  Also, the fewer computer chips in your electronic devices, the better. Before you use a voltage converter on any piece of equipment with computer chips in it, check with the product's manufacturer to make sure the equipment won't be damaged or destroyed. For example, heat thermostats within curling irons can be destroyed by using a power converter.

• Plastic garbage bags make handy containers for dirty clothes, and can be used to separate different sets of clothes inside the suitcase (e.g., slacks in one bag, shirts in another).
• Wrinkle test your clothes before you pack. Scrunch a section of a garment for about a half a minute, then release it. If the garment looks bad, it will look even worse coming out of your suitcase. Consider packing mostly polyester and polyester-blend clothes.
• Don't overpack. An overpacked suitcase can wrinkle your clothes, or tear or pop open more easily.
• When you fly:
  • Carry medicine, cash, jewelry, passports, visas, business papers, and other valuables, such as cameras, onboard with you.
  • Pack all liquids, gels and aerosols in three-ounce or smaller containers. (Read the complete list of permitted and prohibited items from the TSA for more information.)
  • Make sure that all checked and carry-on bags are properly tagged, both inside and outside, with the ticketed passenger's name.
  • Keep your carry-on baggage to a minimum. With heavy passenger loads, airlines must strictly enforce carryon luggage requirements.
  • Don't pack any of the following items in your carry-on luggage. (Some of these may seem like common sense, but as the saying goes “sense is not always common.” Also, this list is not all-inclusive. There are certain exceptions for personal care, medical needs, and for equipment that supports physically-challenged passengers. There are also provisions for sporting equipment. When in doubt, check with your airline, or get more details from the TSA.)
    • Mace, tear gas, and other irritants.
    • Aerosols containing flammable material (e.g., hair spray, deodorant, repellents).
    • Loaded firearms.
    • Loose ammunition.
    • Gasoline and other flammable materials.
    • Propane, butane cylinders or refills, and lighter refills.
    • Wet-type batteries, such as those used in cars.
    • Fireworks and flares.
    • Safety or "strike-anywhere" matches (in checked baggage).
    • Paint and paint-related materials (thinners and cleaners).
    • Corrosives (acids), poisonous, infectious, and radioactive materials.