Rebecca Hamson Insider, Tips and Tricks Leaving the Kitchen Sink at Home We all know the inconveniences of living out of a suitcase—including not being able to squeeze in all of the essentials. Here are some tips on how to pack everything but the kitchen sink. Most of these tools can be purchased at an outdoor recreation, sporting goods, or travel store. Towel: Travel towels will not only fit more compactly into your suitcase, but due to their synthetic blend of fabric, they can absorb anywhere from four to eight times their weight in water and can dry quickly, which helps reduce unwanted odors. Laundry or dish soap: If you’ll be vacationing long enough to need to wash laundry or dishes and will be staying somewhere with those amenities, be sure to pack small Ziploc bags with enough powder detergents to last you your entire stay. By doing so, you’ll be able to avoid packing more
S&N Browning 10/29/2014 2:01 PM Comment [1]: Changing the tense to will-begerund would better parallel with “you’ll be vacationing.”
clothes and using disposable dinnerware, which saves you both luggage space and money. Shower shoes: The smartest way to avoid getting foot fungus is to wear shower shoes. But no one wants to wear their good shoes in the shower or to have shoes take up excessive room in one’s luggage. If you bring a cheap pair of foam flip-flops, they won’t take up a lot of room, can be attached to the outside of your bag if they’re still wet, and can be tossed away before the trip
S&N Browning 10/29/2014 2:03 PM Comment [2]: Another option would be to say “to allow shoes excessive room” or something to that effect. Then, it’s clearer you are the person doing the action for both wearing good shoes in the shower and allowing too many shoes in the luggage.
home—leaving room for souvenirs and keepsakes instead. Utensils: If you’re planning on buying groceries instead of eating out at restaurants all the time S&N Browning 10/29/2014 2:05 PM
(which is much cheaper), then you’ll want to have some utensils. The most compact utensil is probably the combined fork/spoon/knife, or spork. Not to worry though, it isn’t your typical
Comment [3]: It definitely can be depending on where you’re going. However, I’ve heard of some countries where eating out is actually cheaper than cooking!
S&N Browning 10/29/2014 2:06 PM Comment [4]: I wasn’t aware they made spork/knife combos! Are they still just called sporks?
flimsy spork that was given to you with your lunches in grade school, this is a durable yet lightweight plastic spork.
S&N Browning 10/29/2014 2:06 PM Comment [5]: Haha, I like this. Oh the memories.
Pillow: Bringing a small inflatable travel pillow is beneficial as it can easily be inflated for sleeping during travel or at night and then be deflated when packed away. If you’re struggling to find these pillows, remember that they are intended to be used inside the hoods of mummy sleeping bags, so look for them there at your nearest outdoor recreation store. Blanket: Fleece sleeping bag liners can readily roll up and fit inside your luggage, attach to the outside of your luggage, or be carried by the handle or drawstring. The liners are convenient to bring because they can be used as a blanket while traveling or as a hostel sheet or sleeping bag during the night. Kindle or tablet: For those hours spent in airports, train stations, and bus depots, bringing a Kindle or tablet is a great way to provide hours of entertainment without the added weight of books. Remember that packing light and compact will be to your advantage, especially if you plan to bring any souvenirs home. Good luck, and feel free to leave the kitchen sink at home this time!
S&N Browning 10/29/2014 2:09 PM Comment [6]: You may want to consider including a general price range for these. I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary, but it’d be helpful.
S&N Browning 10/29/2014 2:10 PM Comment [7]: Nice ending! I like the kitchen sink joke. J