There’s one travel frustration that’s all too familiar: unpacking at your destination only to find your carefully selected outfits crumpled beyond recognition.
Whether it’s a linen shirt for a coastal escape or a breezy dress for a city break, wrinkled clothes can put a damper on any trip.
Leanna Spektor, Co-Founder and Style Expert at Brand House Direct, an Australian online retailer specialising in footwear and apparel, understands this problem well. With over 20 years in the fashion industry, she’s developed a simple yet effective approach to keeping clothes pristine during travel.
“Summer fabrics like linen, cotton, and lightweight materials are particularly susceptible to creasing when packed tightly,” says Leanna. “But there’s a straightforward method that can help your clothes arrive looking fresh, using items you likely already have at home.”
Below, Leanna shares her step-by-step hack for wrinkle-free travel packing.
Why Clothes Wrinkle During Travel
Understanding the problem helps explain why this hack works so well. When clothes are packed into a suitcase, they’re compressed with little to no airflow. The pressure from other items, combined with movement during transit, creates deep crease lines that can be difficult to smooth out later. Summer fabrics like linen and cotton, which tend to wrinkle easily due to their lightweight, loosely woven nature, are especially prone to holding these creases.
“The combination of tight packing and constant movement is what really does the damage,” explains Leanna. “Your suitcase is being shifted, tilted, and stacked throughout your journey, and each movement reinforces those wrinkles.”
The Tissue Paper Hack: Step-By-Step
Leanna explains the best way to get your clothes crease-free while travelling.
- Layer With Tissue Paper or Dry Cleaner Plastic
The first step is creating a barrier between your clothing layers. Place sheets of tissue paper or the plastic covers from dry cleaning between each garment as you pack. This prevents fabrics from rubbing directly against each other and provides a thin cushion that reduces pressure points.
“Think of it as giving each piece of clothing its own protective shield,” says Leanna. “The tissue or plastic acts as a buffer, preventing the friction that causes creases to set in.”
- Roll Instead of Fold
For delicate or lightweight items, such as linen trousers, cotton shirts, or floaty summer dresses, rolling is far superior to folding. When you fold clothes, you create hard crease lines at the fold points. Rolling distributes any pressure more evenly across the fabric, preventing those stubborn lines from forming.
To roll effectively, lay the garment flat, smooth out any existing wrinkles, and then roll it snugly from one end to the other. Tuck rolled items vertically in your suitcase so you can see everything at once.
- The Bathroom Steam Treatment
Once you’ve arrived at your destination, this final step works wonders. Hang your slightly creased clothes in the bathroom while you run a hot shower. The steam will naturally relax the fibres and release minor wrinkles without the need for an iron.
“This is particularly effective for linen and cotton,” notes Leanna. “Just make sure the clothes aren’t too close to the water stream itself. You want the steam, not direct moisture.”
Why This Hack Works
This method is effective because it addresses wrinkles at multiple stages. The tissue paper and plastic reduce friction and pressure during packing, rolling prevents hard fold lines, and the steam treatment provides a gentle finishing touch. Together, these steps mean you can step out looking polished without hunting for hotel irons or paying for pressing services.
The approach is also practical for various trip types.
“Whether you’re packing for a weekend by the beach or a two-week summer holiday, these techniques scale easily and don’t require any special equipment or significant extra packing space,” Leanna says.
Leanna Spektor, Co-Founder & Style Expert at Brand House Direct, commented: “Beyond the tissue paper hack, there are a few other strategies that make a real difference. Always pack heavier items like shoes and sandals at the bottom of your suitcase. This creates a stable base and prevents lighter summer garments from being crushed underneath.
“For formalwear or anything you absolutely need to look perfect, invest in a garment bag. They’re worth the extra effort and take up less space than you’d think when folded correctly.
“Finally, unpack as soon as you arrive at your accommodation. Even if you’re tired from travelling, taking five minutes to hang everything up immediately can prevent wrinkles from setting in permanently. Your clothes will thank you for it, as will your holiday photos.”