No matter how carefully you pack, clothes can still come out of your suitcase with unwanted wrinkles. But there’s one simple trick experienced travelers rely on: turning certain pieces of clothing inside out before folding them. It takes only a few seconds and can help keep clothing looking smoother and more presentable when you arrive. Here’s why this simple packing hack is worth trying, along with other helpful tips to keep your clothes looking their best on your next trip.

Prevent Wrinkles

Traveling for a wedding or special occasion? The inside-out trick works particularly well for lined garments. If you’re packing a suit, turn it inside out before folding it and placing it in your suitcase. Doing this helps the outer fabric that everyone sees stay free from wrinkles, keeping most of the creases and deep pressure marks that come from being packed inside the suitcase on the inside lining. The same trick works for other lined garments, such as blazers, sport coats, tailored dresses, skirts, or lined trousers. This step takes only a few seconds, but it can make a noticeable difference when you unpack.

Prevent Snags

Turning clothes inside out can also help protect delicate fabrics from snags while you’re traveling. Zippers, buckles, shoe soles, and even rough fabrics can catch on clothing as your suitcase gets moved around. Packing delicate items — like lace, silk, embroidered pieces, or clothing with sequins or beading — inside out helps protect them against pulls and damage.

Prevent Stains

Suitcases go through a lot before they reach your destination. Even if the inside looks clean, dust, dirt from shoes, or a small toiletry leak can end up on your clothes. Turning a garment inside out helps protect the side that will actually be visible when you wear it. This is especially helpful for white or light-colored clothing or anything you’re saving for a special occasion.

Other Packing Tips

• Button and zip your clothes before packing: Fastening buttons, zippers, and hooks helps garments keep their shape and prevents them from catching on other items in your suitcase.
• Use shoe bags: Shoes are one of the dirtiest items in your luggage. Keeping them in separate shoe bags or cloth bags, or even covering the soles with shower caps, helps keep dirt off your clothes and prevents rough soles or buckles from snagging delicate fabrics.
• Pack toiletries in a waterproof bag: Because of changes in air pressure, even bottles with secure lids can leak during a flight. A waterproof pouch provides an extra layer of protection and can save the rest of your suitcase if something spills.
• Roll casual clothes and fold dressier items: Roll T-shirts, workout clothes, pajamas, and sweaters into tight cylinders — not only does it maximize the available space in your luggage, but the rolling method also leads to fewer wrinkles than folding. The exception is more structured pieces like suits, dress shirts, and blazers, which are better off folded carefully so they hold their shape.
• Unpack when you arrive. As tempting as it is to leave everything in your suitcase, hanging your clothes as soon as you get to your hotel gives wrinkles a chance to relax. No iron available? No problem. If anything still looks creased, hanging it in the bathroom while you take a hot shower often helps smooth out the garment.