1
Packing Tricks
While preparing to travel to the Amazon jungle, I asked a Vietnamese emigrant working in a camping store in New York City if the store sold mosquito nets.
“Buy it when you get there,” he advised.
“But what if they don’t sell mosquito nets in the Amazon?”
He laughed. “Believe me,” he said, “the people in the Amazon don’t like mosquitoes any more than you do.”
How to Store Valuables in a Shaving Cream Can
WHAT YOU NEED
- Safety goggles
- Can of shaving cream, 10 ounces
- Work gloves
- Safety can opener
- Water
- Sandpaper, 220 grit
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
- PVC coupling, 1½-inch ABS DWV H × H
- Sheet of foam rubber with adhesive backing
WHAT TO DO
1. Wearing safety goggles, empty the shaving cream and as much pressurized gas as possible from the shaving cream can by pressing the nozzle until the can is completely empty. Do not attempt to cut into the can if it contains shaving cream, otherwise the pressurized can may explode, producing metal shrapnel.
2. Wearing safety goggles and work gloves, and working outdoors, use the safety can opener to carefully open the bottom of the empty shaving cream can. Make the initial puncture at the back of the can, in case the can opener makes a small dent in the metal. When you first puncture the can, the remaining pressurized gas in the can may squirt a small amount of shaving cream from the hole.
3. Carefully rinse out the can with water, being careful not to cut yourself on the sharp bottom edge.
4. Wearing work gloves, lightly sand the bottom edge with 220-grit sandpaper—without grazing the paint on the side of the can.
5. Using a pair of scissors, snip off the plastic tube from inside the can as close to the top of the can as possible.
6. Using the hot glue gun, attach the piece of PVC coupling (with the factory-cut edge facing down to ensure a precise fit) onto the inside of the can bottom.
7. Cut several strips of foam rubber 1 inch wide and adhere them inside the circumference of the can, roughly ¼ inch above the bottom edge as shown, to create a ring of foam so the plastic tube attached to the bottom lid fits snugly inside.
8. Place money or valuables inside the can, replace the bottom lid, and stand the can on a shelf in your medicine cabinet. To prevent jewelry from jangling inside the can, wrap the items in a tissue before placing them inside the can.
HOW IT WORKS
The plastic tube attached to the bottom lid fits snugly inside the ring of adhesive foam attached to the inner wall of the empty shaving cream can, allowing you to hide anything that fits inside the hollow can.
HUSH MONEY
In the 1993 movie Jurassic Park, computer programmer Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) uses a modified Barbasol shaving cream can to smuggle frozen dinosaur embryos from Jurassic Park on Isla Nublar. Nedry crashes his jeep, drops the can (which gets covered by mud), and gets killed by a Dilophosaurus. The fate of the Barbasol cryocan provides the main storyline for Jurassic Park: The Game.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
How to Pack Light
- Choose a small bag, which automatically prevents you from taking more than fits in the bag.
- Pack clothes for no more than seven days. Wash your laundry once a week rather than carrying the weight of additional garments.
- Abide by the travelers’ maxim “Lay out only what you absolutely need. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.”
- Roll your clothes, rather than folding them, to maximize the space in your luggage.
- Stuff socks inside your shoes to maximize space and prevent the shoes from crushing.
- Stack bras on top of each other, fold them in half, and stuff underwear inside the cavity. This method helps bras maintain their shape, extends the life of the undergarments, and saves space.
- Pack a pair of shoes inside a shower cap to prevent the soles from dirtying your clothes.
- Place bottles of shampoo and conditioner inside your shoes to prevent both the bottles and shoes from crushing.
- Avoid packing toiletry items you can buy at your destination.
- Pack items that can serve several purposes, such as a bandana and a sarong.
- Pack a can opener, some plastic silverware, and a can of tuna fish. If you arrive late at your destination with no place open to buy food, you’ll have emergency rations.
- Wear your bulkier items, such as boots, a sweater, and a jacket.
How to Organize Clothes with Ziplock Freezer Bags
WHAT YOU NEED
- Ziplock freezer bags, 1-gallon or 2-gallon size
- Plastic drinking straw (optional)
WHAT TO DO
1. Pack clothes for one outfit (especially for children) into a freezer bag, zip the bag shut most of the way (leaving an opening roughly 1 inch long), and then sit on the bag to expel the air.
2. Place your mouth against the opening and inhale to suck the remaining air from the bag. Or insert a plastic drinking straw through the opening and into the center of the plastic bag, seal the bag shut (up to the straw), suck out the air from the bag, and pull out the straw.
3. Zip the bag shut, and pack it in your suitcase.
HOW IT WORKS
The plastic freezer bags contain the clothes, making it easier to stay organized, and sucking the air from the bags compresses the amount of space the clothes take up.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
16 Must-Pack Items
- Bandana. The multipurpose cloth can be used as a scarf, headband, bandage, place mat, hand towel, potholder … the list seems endless.
- Duct Tape. Carry a small roll to repair luggage, shoes, tents, and guidebooks, and to seal boxes.
- Earplugs. These lifesavers help buffer you against screaming babies or snoring roommates.
- Emergency Medical Kit. Don’t forget to pack your medications and first aid equipment (bandages, antibiotic ointment, etc.) in a small zippered bag.
- Eye Mask. It’s lightweight and helps keep the light out so you can get shut-eye on a plane, train, bus, or inside a cheap hotel room with a neon light flashing outside the window.
- Flashlight. A small LCD pocket light comes in handy at night for illuminating dark paths or passages, finding the bathroom, and reading books or maps.
- Flip-Flops. Wear them in the shower at hotels and hostels to avoid getting athlete’s foot or plantar warts.
- Pillowcase and/or Sheet. If you get stuck somewhere with questionable bedding, having your own pillowcase and sheet helps you rest easy.
- Power Strip. If the airport lounge lacks outlets, you can turn a single outlet into a public outlet.
- Rope. A 6-foot length of rope comes in handy as a clothesline.
- Safety Pins. These indispensible tools can replace missing buttons, substitute for zipper pulls, and clasp together the zippers of your daypack to thwart thieves.
- Single-Load Detergent Packet. Keep a box of laundry detergent in a ziplock bag, or empty the powder into the bag to conserve space. You’ll need this to wash your clothes in a sink.
- Tote Bag. Great as a carry-on bag, grocery bag, picnic bag, or beach bag.
- Towel. You’ll need this at hostels and beaches. A microfiber towel takes up less space in your bag and dries quicker than a conventional towel.
- Universal Sink Stopper. If you plan to wash your clothes in any sinks, have one of these to make sure you can stop the drain.
- Ziplock Bags. These resealable waterproof bags can hold food, jewelry, or powdered laundry detergent.
How to Protect Jewelry with Buttons and a Pill Container
WHAT YOU NEED
- Medium-sized buttons
- Day-of-the-week pill container
- Tissues
- Rubber bands (or elastic hair bands)
- Ziplock freezer bag
WHAT TO DO
1. Remove the back from a pair of stud earrings, poke the two pins in opposite holes in the button, and replace the backs on the pins from the underside of the button to hold the pair of earrings in place.
2. Place a different piece of jewelry inside each compartment of the pill container.
3. Crumple up tissues and place one in each compartment to prevent the jewelry from jangling around while traveling.
4. Seal the pill container shut, and wrap a rubber band around it lengthwise for added security.
5. Slip the pill container into the ziplock bag and seal it. This way, should the pill container pop open unexpectedly, the bag will catch any jewelry that may fall out.
6. Place the pill container flat in the suitcase between layers of clothing to prevent it from opening unexpectedly.
HOW IT WORKS
The buttons keep the pairs of earrings together and prevent them from getting lost, and the pill container keeps the jewelry organized, sorted, and tangle-free. The pill container provides seven compartments for you to pack enough jewelry for a weeklong trip.
EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK
Happy Pills
Pill containers have a wide variety of other convenient uses:
- Craft Container. Store beads and pins in a weekly pill container (at half the price of craft storage boxes). With the pill container, you can open one compartment at a time, avoiding potential spills of beads from neighboring compartments.
- Fishing Tackle Box. Store fly-fishing hooks, weights, and flies in a pill container.
- Screw Storage. A pill container stores a nice selection of small screws, nuts, and washers.
- Seed Storage. Fill each compartment with seeds for rosemary, carrots, dill, or tomatoes—plants for which you need only a few seeds at a time.
- Travel Spice Rack. Fill each compartment of a pill container with a different spice for camping. Place a label on the lid of each compartment to identify each spice.
How to Vacuum Pack with a Vacuum Cleaner
WHAT YOU NEED
- Plastic kitchen trash bags
- Vacuum cleaner with hose attachment
- Hair band (or rubber band)
WHAT TO DO
1. Place bulky clothes, blankets, or even a foam mattress pad inside a plastic kitchen trash bag.
2. Remove any cleaning attachment from the vacuum cleaner hose, insert the end of the hose through a hair band (or doubled-over rubber band), and slide the tie one foot up the hose.
3. With your hand, bunch up the mouth of the plastic trash bag and hold it closed lightly.
4. Insert the end of the vacuum cleaner hose into the top opening in the trash bag (pressed against an item inside, not the plastic side of the bag), and gather the mouth of the bag shut around the hose.
5. Slide the hair band (or rubber band) down the tube and over the bunched-up mouth of the bag to hold it in place and form a seal.
6. Turn on the vacuum cleaner and suck the air from the plastic trash bag until it stops shrinking.
7. Slide the tube out from the bag with the vacuum cleaner still running, and holding the bunched-up section of the bag, spin the bag to tighten it shut.
8. Use the hair band to seal the bag shut.
9. Turn off the vacuum cleaner.
HOW IT WORKS
The vacuum cleaner sucks the excess air from the bag, creating a vacuum seal and compressing the contents inside.
Rather than using kitchen trash bags (which are 0.95 mil), you can use thicker trash bags (1.05 mil) or contractor-grade trash bags (3.0 mil) so the bags don’t accidentally rip open as easily.
How to Deodorize a Suitcase with Dryer Sheets
WHAT YOU NEED
WHAT TO DO
1. Place the smelly suitcase, trunk, or duffle bag open outside on a porch to air out for several hours.
2. Place several dryer sheets inside the suitcase.
3. Seal the suitcase shut and let it stand undisturbed for one week.
4. When packing the suitcase, place a few dryer sheets between clothing items in your suitcase.
HOW IT WORKS
Dryer sheets keep your clothes smelling fresh and prevent them from absorbing any mustiness from old luggage.
IN THE BAG
When storing suitcases, leave the zippers open so the luggage can air out. Here are a few more tips to keep your luggage fresh:
- Baking Soda. Place a bowl filled with baking soda inside the suitcase and close the suitcase. Let it stand undisturbed for several days, then remove the bowl of baking soda. Baking soda chemically neutralizes odors by turning into a sodium salt and giving off water and carbon dioxide.
- Garbage Bags. Before packing dirty laundry in a suitcase, place the soiled clothes in a plastic garbage bag and seal it shut.
- Kitty Litter. Place unused kitty litter inside the suitcase to absorb the odors and close the suitcase. Let it stand undisturbed for several days and then remove the kitty litter. The pure, refined clay absorbs odors and moisture, which prevents and reduces mold and mildew.
- Newspaper. To deodorize musty luggage, fill a suitcase or trunk with crumpled pages of newspaper, close it, and let it sit for two weeks. The newsprint absorbs foul odors.
- Soap. To keep luggage smelling fresh, tuck a wrapped bar of soap inside a suitcase before storing it. When you take out the suitcase to go traveling, leave the bar of soap inside to keep your clothes smelling fresh.
How to Fix a Broken Luggage Wheel with Duct Tape
WHAT YOU NEED
- Duct tape
- Utility knife
- Black electrical tape (optional)
WHAT TO DO
1. If the rubber wheel on a suitcase cracks and falls off, leaving behind an inner metal roller, tear a strip of duct tape the width of the wheel.
2. Wrap the strip of duct tape tightly around the inner metal roller (making certain the width of the tape is centered on the roller) in the direction the wheel turns (from front to back) so the tape does not unravel when you roll the suitcase.
3. Continue wrapping strips of duct tape around the wheel until the layers of duct tape attain the same diameter as the opposite wheel.
4. If necessary, use a utility knife to carefully trim or bevel the sides of the duct tape tire to prevent the sides from rubbing against the frame of the suitcase.
5. If desired, cover the finished wheel with a strip of black electrical tape to cover the adhesive on the beveled edge and give the improvised tire the same color as the opposite tire.
HOW IT WORKS
The duct tape creates enough thickness to temporarily double as a spare tire for the luggage.
WATCHING THE WHEELS
You can also replace a broken luggage wheel with a Rollerblade wheel, provided you have one of matching size. Remove your broken luggage wheel with a screwdriver or hex wrench, reusing any existing washers. If the wheel is attached with rivets, you need to replace the entire bolt and axle. An inline skate wheel will actually be more durable and roll smoother than a standard luggage wheel. Adding a colorful Rollerblade wheel to your luggage will also make your bag easier to identify at baggage claim.
How to Identify Luggage with Nail Polish
WHAT YOU NEED
- A brightly colored nail polish
- Suitcase
WHAT TO DO
1. Carefully paint the heads of any screws on your suitcase (generally found on both sides of the handles) with a coat of brightly colored nail polish.
2. Let it dry.
3. Repeat if necessary, to give the nail polish a second coat.
HOW IT WORKS
When your suitcase comes through the baggage claim at your destination, you’ll immediately spot the unique spots of color on your luggage. Unlike a colored tag or ribbon tied through the luggage strap, the brightly colored screws are not easily removed.
A WHOLE BAG OF TRICKS
Buying a uniquely colored suitcase with an outlandish design reduces the chances that other travelers on your flight, train, or bus will have the same luggage as you, minimizing the likelihood that others will accidentally mistake your luggage for their own. Here are more ways to make your luggage easily identifiable:
- Colorful Luggage Tags. Attach one or more unique and sturdy luggage tags to the handle of your suitcase so you can easily recognize the tag and bag from a distance.
- Duct Tape. Tape brightly colored or pattered duct tape to the luggage in the shape of your initial or any design of your choosing.
- Electrical Tape. Apply a few strips of colorful electrical tape to your luggage to make an eye-catching bag.
- Fabric Paint. Use fabric paint in glitter colors to paint wild designs on your fabric bags.
- Garbage Bag. Place your suitcase inside a large plastic black garbage bag and use masking tape to write your initial on the outside of the bag. Your luggage will be easily recognizable and simultaneously protected from rain.
- Luggage Straps. Buy colorful luggage straps to wrap around your checked bags.
- Ribbon or Yarn. Adorn you luggage by tying a piece of brightly colored ribbon or strips of yarn braided together to the handle of your luggage.
- Sponge or Scrubber. Attach a loofah sponge on a rope or a colorful nylon body scrubber on a rope to your luggage.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
How to Weigh Your Luggage
To avoid being slapped with additional fees at the airport, weigh your bags in advance to make sure they do not exceed the weight restrictions.
- Check with your airline to confirm weight restrictions for your luggage. Understand that your class of travel and your destination determine how much luggage you can bring.
- With your bag fully packed, place the bag on a bathroom scale. If the bag does not fit on the scale, weigh yourself on the scale and record your weight. Lift your luggage, step on the scale, and record the combined weight of you and the bag. Subtract the first number from the second number to calculate the weight of the bag.
- If a scale is unavailable, consider bringing your luggage to a gym.
- Purchase an inexpensive handheld luggage scale. The scale clips onto the handle of your bag, and you then lift the scale with the bag attached to determine the weight. You can also pack the lightweight scale into your bag, so you’re always prepared for this scenario.
- If your bag exceeds the weight limit, place some of the heavier items in your carry-on bag. Airlines restrict the dimensions of your carry-on bag, but they rarely check the weight.
How to Prevent Toiletries from Exploding with Plastic Wrap
WHAT YOU NEED
- Scissors
- Plastic wrap
- Masking tape (optional)
- Ziplock freezer bags
WHAT TO DO
1. To prevent bottles and tubes of liquid products like shampoo and conditioner from exploding and making a mess inside your suitcase, use a pair of scissors to cut a 2-inch square of plastic wrap.
2. Remove the cap from the bottle, jar, or tube, set the plastic square on top of the mouth, and replace the cap securely.
3. For added security with a flip cap, tape down the flip cap with masking tape and then adhere another strip of tape around the circumference.
4. Place the bottle or tube in a freezer bag, zip the bag shut most of the way (leaving an opening roughly 1 inch long), suck the remaining air from the bag, and seal the bag shut.
5. Wrap the excess plastic from the bag around the bottle or tube.
6. Nestle the bottle or tube in the center of your suitcase, surrounded by clothes or tucked inside a shoe or sneaker for additional protection.
HOW IT WORKS
The plastic wrap seals the opening in the tube or bottle shut, so if the cap accidentally flips open or the bottle gets squeezed, no liquid will burst out. The masking tape prevents flip caps from accidentally flipping open.
SPILLING THE BEANS
Here are a few other items you can use to pack your toiletry items safely for travel:
- Binder Clip. If your razor has no protective cap, attach a large binder clip over the blades to avoid cutting your fingers by accident when reaching into your toiletry or makeup bag.
- Contact Lens Case. Rather than packing bottles and jars of makeup that might accidentally spill, pour some of the cream or lotion into a clean, empty contact lens case.
- Plastic Prescription Bottle. Store cotton swabs in a plastic prescription bottle to keep them dry and organized.
- Tic Tac Box. An empty Tic Tac box makes an excellent container for storing bobby pins.
EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK
In a Bind
Here are a few additional ways to use binder clips:
- Beer Stacker. To store cans or bottles of beer on their sides, stacked in a pyramid in a mini-fridge with wire shelves, attach a binder clip to one of the metal wires to create a bookend.
- Belt Holder. Use a binder clip to hold the long end of a belt to the rest of the belt, to prevent it from flapping.
- Cable Tie. Declutter all those cables and wires under your desk by clipping them together with binder clips.
- Clothespin Substitute. Need to attach a wet garment to a clothesline? In a pinch, binder clips work beautifully.
- Money Clip. Fold your bills in half and hold them together with a binder clip.
- Toothpaste Squeezer. Attach a binder clip to the end of toothpaste tube to hold the rolled-up end in place.
How to Lock a Suitcase with a Paper Clip
WHAT YOU NEED
- Paper clip (or metal key ring)
WHAT TO DO
1. Zipper the suitcase securely shut so that the eyeholes of the zipper keys line up.
2. Insert the end of the paper clip into the aligned eyeholes, and rotate the metal clip until it is firmly attached.
HOW IT WORKS
The paper clip holds the two zipper keys together so the zipper cannot be accidentally opened. While this technique may not stop a thief from breaking into your bag, it does create an obstruction that will certainly slow and possibly dissuade a thief seeking an easy heist.
EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK
A Familiar Ring
If you have an abundance of key rings in a variety of sizes, you can use them for much more than simply holding keys.
- Closet Space Savers. Slip a key ring over the neck of a hanger, and hook a second hanger on the ring.
- Measuring Spoon Connector. Use a key ring to attach your measuring spoons together.
- Napkin Rings. Use large key rings with decorative attachments as festive or themed napkin rings.
- Potted Plant or Hummingbird Feeder Hangers. Attach a number of key rings together to create a chain for hanging potted plants or hummingbird feeders.
- Wind Chime Hangers. Hook a number of key rings together to create a chain to hang a wind chime.
- Zipper Key Replacement. If the key on a zipper breaks off, attach a key ring through the hole in the slider and, if desired, add a decorative toggle to the key ring.
How to Hide Money in a Pair of Blue Jeans
WHAT YOU NEED
- Scissors
- Money
- Blue jeans
WHAT TO DO
1. Hold the pair of jeans to find the inner hem behind the zipper.
2. Using scissors, carefully cut a horizontal opening approximately 1 inch long along the top of the inner hem.
3. Roll up the money and slide it through the opening, and push the roll of bills down toward the bottom of the newly created pocket.
4. Don the jeans.
5. To remove the roll of money from the hidden pocket, simply press your fingers at the bottom of the pocket to push the roll upward toward the opening.
HOW IT WORKS
The hem behind the zipper in a pair of blue jeans forms a slender vertical pocket that can be accessed by cutting a horizontal slit in the top of the hem. A slender roll of money inserted in the pocket remains hidden inside the jeans. (Note that an airport full-body scanner will detect the roll of money.)
STASH YOUR CASH
- You can also hide your money in a long-sleeve shirt. While wearing a long-sleeve shirt, fold back one of the cuffs of one sleeve, slip your money inside the cuff, and then continue folding up the sleeve past your elbow. Roll up the opposite sleeve to match.
- The cushioning pad inside every shoe and sneaker creates a secret compartment. Remove the pad, slip money into the footwear, and reinsert the pad.
- Retailers sell a watertight container that looks like an ordinary SPF-25 sunscreen bottle that can hold your cash, credit cards, keys, and cell phone.
- When you’re at the beach, place your cell phone, wallet, and keys inside a disposable diaper, roll it up, and fasten the adhesive tabs. Leave the diaper on your beach towel (provided you have young children to complete the charade).
How to Hide Money in a Necktie
WHAT YOU NEED
- Necktie
- Stitch-remover tool
- Needle
- Thread
- Piece of fabric, 3 inches long by 2½ inches wide
- Velcro strip, 5 inches long
WHAT TO DO
1. Most ties have a stitch sewn up the center of the back of the tie to hold together the two sides of decorative fabric. Using the stitch-remover tool, remove the stitches from the bottom 5 inches of the wide end of the back of the tie.
2. Most ties contain a stiff fabric core to maintain the shape of the tie. Sew the piece of fabric to the inner fabric core (but not through the front side of the decorative fabric) to create a pocket.
3. Sew the opposing sides of the Velcro strip to the opposite fabric flaps of the backside of the tie.
4. Insert your folded cash or credit cards in the pocket, close the flaps of the back of the tie, sealing the Velcro strips securely, and wear the tie as usual.
HOW IT WORKS
The Velcro strips keep the back of the tie sealed shut, concealing the secret pocket containing your cash and credit cards.
How to Assemble an Emergency Kit in a Prescription Pill Bottle
WHAT YOU NEED
- Clean, empty plastic prescription pill bottle, label removed
For an Automotive Kit
For an Emergency Kit
- Batteries (AA)
- Bouillon cubes
- Miniature flashlight
- Tea and coffee pouches
- Twist ties
For a Fishing Kit
- Fishing line
- Hooks
- Weights
- Lures
- Bobber
For a First Aid Kit
- Adhesive bandages
- Aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)
- Alcohol swabs
- Small tube or packet of antibiotic ointment
- Gauze pads
For a Key Kit
- Duplicate keys to the house, car, or strongbox
For a Sewing Kit
- 2 sewing needles
- Pins
- Thread (various colors wrapped around a toothpick)
- Shirt buttons
- Safety pins
WHAT TO DO
1. Fill the plastic prescription pill bottle with any combination of the aforementioned items to make a compact emergency kit.
2. Secure the lid shut.
HOW IT WORKS
An emergency kit stored in a plastic prescription pill bottle remains watertight and conveniently sized to easily fit in your bags.
SPIN THE BOTTLE
You can also use a prescription pill bottle to carry any of the following:
- Batteries. Use pill bottles to organize batteries.
- Bobby Pins and Hair Clips. These hair accessories can be easily stored and organized in pill bottles.
- Craft Items. Store beads, cake-piping tips, and needles.
- Matches. Store wooden matches in a clean, empty, plastic prescription pill bottle. The waterproof canister keeps the matches secure and dry. If you’re storing wooden matches, be sure to remove a striker from a matchbook or matchbox and slip it inside the canister as well. Even if you’re stashing strike-anywhere matches in the canister, a striker stored in a waterproof canister may come in handy if you’re soaking wet or stranded in a drenched area. You can also include a few cotton balls, which can be pulled apart to create tinder.
- Keys. Hide a key inside a prescription pill bottle and then bury the canister in the backyard and cover the spot with a marker, like a rock.
- Seeds. Store seeds in prescription pill bottles to keep them dry and easily accessible.
- Spices, Herbs, and Condiments. A prescription pill bottle makes a water-resistant container for salt, pepper, oregano, and teas.
How to Prevent Necklaces from Tangling with a Drinking Straw
WHAT YOU NEED
- Scissors
- Plastic drinking straws
- Plastic wrap
WHAT TO DO
1. Cut a straw the length of one-half the length of your delicate chain jewelry.
2. Feed the end of the chain through two straws and clasp the necklace closed.
3. Place the necklaces between two sheets of plastic wrap.
HOW IT WORKS
The plastic straws prevent the delicate chain from knotting and tangling, and the plastic wrap prevents the necklace from jangling inside your suitcase.
DON’T GET YOURSELF TIED UP IN KNOTS
To disentangle a knot from a fine chain necklace, place the chain on a sheet of paper and sprinkle some baby powder or cornstarch on the knot. Using two sewing pins or needles, slowly and carefully pick out the knot. The baby powder or cornstarch lubricates the metal, making the knots easier to remove.
How to Protect a Wine Bottle with Sneakers
WHAT YOU NEED
- Ziplock freezer bag, 2-gallon
- Sock
- Pair of sneakers with ample padding
WHAT TO DO
1. Place the unopened wine bottle in the freezer bag and zip the bag shut most of the way, leaving an opening roughly 1 inch long. Suck the remaining air from the bag and seal the bag shut.
2. Wrap the excess plastic from the bag around the wine bottle.
3. Slide the wine bottle inside the sock.
4. Loosen the laces of the sneakers to make ample room for the wine bottle.
5. Insert the base of the bottle in one sneaker, wedging it tightly.
6. Place the neck of the bottle into the other sneaker all the way up to the toe.
7. Nestle the sneaker-encased wine bottle in the center of your suitcase, surrounded by clothes for additional padding to prevent shifting.
8. If you don’t have a pair of sneakers, wrap the wine bottle in a sweater or a pair of jeans.
HOW IT WORKS
The padded sneakers provide sufficient cushioning to protect the glass bottle and minimize the vibrations that can negatively affect wine. The ziplock bag provides additional protection should the bottle break and leak.
How to Make a Pair of Slippers from Maxi Pads
WHAT YOU NEED
- 6 maxi pads
- Confetti or a decorative strip of paper
WHAT TO DO
1. Place one maxi pad (adhesive strip up) on a flat surface and peel off the paper protecting the adhesive strip.
2. Peel off the paper protecting the adhesive strip from a second maxi pad, wrap the maxi pad (adhesive side out) around the middle of your foot, and adhere the ends to each other to make a loose loop.
3. Place one flat side of the loop on the exposed adhesive strip of the first maxi pad to create a strap for your foot.
4. Peel off the paper protecting the adhesive strip from the third maxi pad.
5. Thread the third maxi pad (adhesive side down) through the loop and line it up to cover the first maxi pad (adhesive side up).
6. Press the third maxi pad firmly in place to attach it to the first maxi pad.
7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 with the remaining three maxi pads.
8. Adhere confetti or a decorative strip of paper to the exposed adhesive strips on the two loops that serve as the straps.
9. Slip your feet into the loops.
HOW IT WORKS
The adhesive strips hold the maxi pads together, and the resulting slippers are comfortably padded and surprisingly cozy.
EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK
How to Maximize a Maxi Pad
- Clean a Car or Truck Windshield. Peel the adhesive strip from the back of a maxi pad, adhere the pad to the palm of your hand, and use it to wipe down the windshield.
- Prevent Perspiration Stains on the Inside of a Hat Headband. Peel off the adhesive strip on the back of a maxi pad, and stick the maxi pad inside your hat along the headband that rests against your forehead. The maxi pad will absorb perspiration. Replace the maxi pad when necessary.
- Protect a Blister or Corn. Using a pair of scissors, cut a maxi pad into a donut shape, and place it over the blister, leaving the hole over the blister and letting the adhesive strip adhere to the skin. The maxi pad will protect the blister while it heals.
- Clean Eyeglasses. In a pinch, you can wipe the lenses of a pair of eyeglasses clean with a maxi pad.
- Give Yourself a Sponge Bath. If you don’t have time to take a bath, saturate a maxi pad with water and use it as a washcloth to give yourself a sponge bath.
- Improvise Nursing Pads when Breastfeeding. A maxi pad makes an excellent substitute for nursing pads. Cut two circles from the panty liner, and use the adhesive strip to adhere the absorbent pads inside the bra cups.
- Apply or Remove Makeup. In a pinch a maxi pad makes an excellent makeup sponge for applying or removing makeup.
- Bring Down a Fever. If you don’t have a washcloth, saturate a maxi pad with cold water and place it over your forehead to bring down a fever.
- Prevent Blisters on Your Feet. Use a pair of scissors to cut a pair of ultra-thin maxi pads to make shoe insert pads, to prevent your ankles and heels from rubbing against the top edges of the shoes. The ultra-thin maxi pads are the perfect thickness and are also available with deodorant to prevent smelly feet.
- Protect Your Knees when Scrubbing Floors. Peel the adhesive strips from two maxi pads and stick the pads to your knees for cushioned support.
- Prevent Perspiration Stains on Shirts, Blouses, or Jackets. Peel off the adhesive strip on the back of a maxi pad, and stick the maxi pad inside the armpit of a dress shirt, blouse, or jacket to absorb excess perspiration.
- Shine Shoes. After applying polish to shoes, buff with maxi pads.
How to Waterproof a Map with Hairspray
WHAT YOU NEED
- Newspaper
- Rubber gloves
- Safety goggles
- Dust mask (or bandana)
- A can of aerosol hairspray
- Ziplock freezer bag
WHAT TO DO
1. Spread the newspaper on a working surface outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
2. Open the map, and place it on top of the newspaper.
3. Wearing the rubber gloves, safety goggles, and dusk mask, spray a light coat of hairspray over the surface of the map.
4. Let the surface dry for 30 minutes.
5. Flip the map over, and again wearing the rubber gloves, safety goggles, and dusk mask, spray a thin coat of hairspray over the back of the map.
6. Let the surface dry for 30 minutes.
7. Repeat the entire procedure to give both sides of the map a second coat of hairspray.
8. Fold up the map and pack it inside a ziplock bag.
HOW IT WORKS
The fixative in the hairspray gives the map a waterproof coating, and the ziplock bag further protects the map from moisture and abrasion.
MAP IT OUT
Many companies now produce waterproof maps, but if you need other ways to protect an existing paper map, try:
- Clear Packaging Tape. Cover both sides of the map with strips of clear packaging tape until you have laminated the entire map.
- Con-Tact Paper. Cover both sides of a map with clear Con-Tact paper to create a waterproof seal, and then trim the edges with a pair of scissors or a utility knife. Trace your route with a dry erase marker, which you can wipe off after the trip.
How to Open a Locked Suitcase with a Ballpoint Pen
WHAT YOU NEED
WHAT TO DO
1. To get into a locked zippered suitcase, jab the point of a ballpoint pen into the sealed zipper combs near the lock—puncturing the seal made by the zipper teeth.
2. With the pen inserted into the perforation between the zipper teeth, glide the pen along the zipper to open the suitcase.
3. To reseal the suitcase, simply grab the lock holding the zipper mechanism shut and zip up the suitcase.
4. Return the zipper mechanism to its original position, leaving no sign that anyone has tampered with the suitcase.
HOW IT WORKS
The zipper is a meshed-tooth slider fastener, and jabbing and sliding a sharp object between the fastened meshed teeth separates them, just like the mechanical slider does.
LEFT HOLDING THE BAG
- In 1922, the B. F. Goodrich Company gave the trademark name Zipper to its new rubber galoshes with new “hookless fasteners.” Goodrich reportedly coined the word “zipper,” onomatopoeia for the sound the device made when he zipped up his boots. The catchy name made the zipper a household word and common fastener on clothing.
- In 1935, fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli introduced a line of clothing bursting with decorative colored zippers of various sizes, turning the zipper into a popular fashion statement.
- It was also in 1935 that Hungarian newspaper editor Ladislas Biro, frustrated with the ink pens he used at work, teamed up with his brother George to develop the ballpoint pen. Their new design included a rolling ball at the tip and the quick-drying ink used to print newspapers.
How to Live out of Grocery Tote Bags
WHAT YOU NEED
- Several reusable canvas grocery tote bags (one for each night of your road trip)
WHAT TO DO
1. Rather than lugging a heavy suitcase into a new hotel each night, pack individual canvas grocery tote bags with one day’s worth of clothes—a shirt, a pair of pants, a pair of socks, and underwear.
2. Place your toiletry kit in the first canvas bag.
3. Place all the packed tote bags in the trunk of your car.
4. When you check in to your hotel, bring the first canvas tote (including the toiletry kit).
5. In the morning, place your dirty clothes in the tote, place it back in the trunk, and move the toiletry kit to your second canvas tote bag.
HOW IT WORKS
You still travel with a sufficient amount of clothes, but each night you reach into the trunk and grab one small canvas tote bag containing a change of clothes and your toiletry kit—eliminating the hassle of hauling a large suitcase into a new hotel room each night.
LIVING OUT OF A SUITCASE
To keep reusable grocery tote bags organized in your trunk, simply place a plastic bin in your trunk and fill it with the totes.