Packing Like a Pro Organizer: Packing Cubes
For those of you squeezing in a last minute summer getaway or already planning one for winter, this is for you.
My organizing obsessiveness recently expanded to packing. It’s not my fault. After seeing posts like these from fellow bloggers and professional home organizers, I knew I had to up my game. Plus, I was so over traveling with a husband repeatedly having to ask where Kid 1’s swim trunks were or where his own underwear was. Seriously???
Packing Cubes: Yes or No
With packing cubes all the rage, I picked some up for my last vacation and am embarrassed to admit that I made a fair share of rookie mistakes that stopped me from loving these as much as I’d hoped. So, if you’ve been itching to try packing cubes, check out these 3 tips to hop right into packing like a pro.
Tips on Successfully Organizing With Packing Cubes
1. Splurge for the good ones. What makes for a good one?
- A good zipper. My first batch of cubes had me battling stubborn zippers that had me close to tearing them open with my bare hands, Hulk-style.
- Easy to see-through mesh tops. Breathable mesh is always a good thing when you’re not washing clothes on the daily. See-through or large mesh openings also make it easier to identify what’s in each cube. Without this, you’ll be stuck with a bunch of cubes holding mystery stinky and stale clothes. Been there, too.
2. Color code for each family member, especially if you’re attempting to pack everything in one piece of luggage. At the very least, you’ll know which set of cubes belong to each person, limiting the search for Kid 1’s swim trunks. Also look for colors that are significantly different from one another. Learn from me: dimly lit hotel rooms make distinguishing grey from light blue tricky. Ugh.
3. Use the same sized cube for each clothing category. Huh? Here’s what I mean by this. Most packing cubes come in sets with various sizes, i.e. one large, one medium, one small. The goal should be for each family to use, for example, the largest packing cube from their set to organize pants. Seems intuitive, right? Consider this yet another lesson learned from my earlier packing cube adventure.
The Verdict
With one last summer getaway coming up, I’m hopeful that following these tips will have me packing like a true professional organizer in no time. Bonus: proving to myself (and my husband) that these cubes can be used for more than just making the inside of my luggage look pretty.
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