Creature comforts outdoors



  •  Take a drop sheet along



After painting the house or doing other messy home repairs, you may be ready to pack up and go camping, so remember to take some of the drop sheets you've used to protect flooring and furniture with you. Choose one that more or less matches the dimensions of your tent floor and pitch the tent on top of it. The drop sheet will prevent dampness from seeping in and keep the tent cleaner into the bargain.



You might want to bring another drop sheet (an inexpensive new plastic one) to use as a tablecloth; campsite tables are often covered with bird droppings and other debris.




  •  Pill-bottle salt and pepper shakers



There's no need to eat bland food just because you're roughing it. Pour salt, pepper and any other spices you enjoy into separate small screw-cap pill bottles and label them with an indelible marker on masking tape so that you'll be able to reuse them. Because these containers are airtight, moisture won't cause the contents to dampen and congeal. Then take two lids from another set of pill bottles and punch small holes in them with a sharp tool. You can then use one for salt and the other for pepper, and then shake away to suit your taste. But make sure you replace the solid caps at the end of the meal to keep moisture at bay.




  •  Save plastic bottles



Before you throw plastic bottles into the recycling bin, consider the ways you can put them to good use on camping trips and picnics.



When you're in the great outdoors, you can use a plastic bottle to do some of the following:




  1. Make a bowl Cut off the bottom portion to make a bowl of any depth you need; you might want to sandpaper the edges to make them less rough.

  2.   Dispose of liquids Pour in cooking oils and other liquid rubbish.

  3. Create an icepack Fill a bottle with water, freeze it and use it to keep an esky cold. Or put it in a backpack to keep food cool on a long hike.

  4.  Serve as a makeshift toilet Keep it just outside the tent so you don't have to wander out into the dark. (At least this works for male campers.)




  •  Plastic containers are great, too



Recycle old plastic butter tubs the next time you go hiking or camping — they have many practical outdoor uses, including:




  1. Snare stinging insects To keep wasps and other insects from invading your outdoor meals, fill a container with water, add a little sugar, poke a hole in the lid and place this sweet trap off to one side of your dining area. The wasps will fly in but won't be able to fly out.

  2. Feed your dog Fill a container with biscuits so the dog's dinner is ready when he's hungry; use a second container for water.

  3. Block ants Fill four plastic containers with water and put one under each leg of a table. Ants won't be able to get through your makeshift moat and crawl up the table legs to get at your picnic.




  •  Freshen sleeping bags with soap



Sleeping bags can become a bit musty after a couple of uses, but you can freshen them by putting a bar of soap or a fabric-softener sheet inside them. Do it after you get out of the sleeping bag each morning, then zip the bag shut. The next time you slip in, remove the bag freshener and put it aside to use again, then drift off into sweeter-smelling dreams.




  •  Bubble-wrap mattress



Pack a 2-m length of bubble wrap and lay it under your sleeping bag before you get in. The air pockets are not only soft; they'll also protect your sleeping bag from damp.




  •  Hula hoop privacy protector



If you have a hula hoop, some rope or string, an old shower curtain or tablecloth and a few large metal bulldog clips, bring them along — to build a portable cubicle that you can use for changing, washing up, even showering under a bucket (see 'Staying clean outside',). Suspend the hoop from a branch with the rope or twine. Drape the shower curtain or tablecloth over the hoop, fastening the material onto the hoop with bulldog clips or any other fasteners you might have. While it may not be a thing of beauty, you will welcome the chance to disappear inside it for a bit of privacy.




  •  Shoo off insects with fabric softener



Fabric-softener sheets aren't your usual item of technologically advanced outdoor gear, but you'll be glad to have some when mosquitoes start swarming around your tent. Just pin or tie one to your clothing to keep them away.




  •  Foil dampness and grime



For a little extra campsite comfort, take some aluminium foil from the kitchen when packing. Here are three ways to use it.




  1.  Wrap your matches in aluminium foil to protect them from moisture.

  2. Lay a large piece of foil under your sleeping bag to prevent dampness from seeping in.

  3.  Wad some foil into a ball to use as a scouring pad. Foil is great for scraping grime off a barbecue and blackened residue from the bottom of pans that are used over an open fire.











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A Traveller’s miscellany



  • Balloon therapy



Balloons can be good for the body as well as the spirit. Pack a durable, uninflated balloon with your travelling medicine kit and use it to make a cold or hot pack to soothe a sprain or muscle soreness when you're away from home. Just fill the balloon with very cold water or hot water from the tap. Tie it off and lay it over the affected area. If you have a freezer and want to go the whole hog, make an icepack by freezing a partially water-filled balloon.




  •  Chest rub for painful feet



If a day of sightseeing leaves you with pleasant memories but sore feet, rub a little medicated chest rub onto your feet before going to bed (put on a pair of socks to keep the rub from marking the sheets). Your feet will feel like new in the morning.




  •  Pre-soaked insect repellants



You never know when insect-repellant spray might come in handy, but cans and bottles can take up a lot of room in a portable medicine kit. Leave bulky containers behind — before leaving home, soak cotton wool balls in insect repellant and store them in a self-sealing plastic bag. When insects make an appearance, just pull out a cotton wool ball and dab some of the protective liquid onto your skin.




  •  A pill-bottle toothbrush protector



Have you ever opened your travel kit to find a toothbrush soaked in shaving cream? An easy and tidy way to keep up with dental hygiene on the road is to make a toothbrush-holder kit out of an old plastic pill bottle. Cut a slit in the lid and slide the lid over the handle of your toothbrush; then replace the lid so the bristles of the toothbrush are inside the container, where they will remain clean.










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Survival in the outdoors



  • Scrounge around for old film canisters



If you still use a film camera, hoard empty film canisters for use when hiking or camping out. These convenient, waterproof containers with their snap-on, leakproof lids are great for storing matches, small batteries or other small items that could leave you high and dry or in danger if they become wet and unusable. If you've made the switch to a digital camera and don't have easy access to film canisters, use old pill bottles instead.




  •  Zap sap with butter



Sticky tree sap is one of the more harmless hazards you'll encounter when camping out, but it's still annoying to find sap on your skin. To get rid of it, take out some butter or margarine from the esky, rub it into the sap and wash the area with soap and water. This gentle treatment will not only be easy on your skin but has another application for campers: it will help to waterproof tent canvas and other outdoor equipment fabrics.




  •  A tin-can fire starter



Instead of using lighter fluid, try building a fire with this homemade, fluidless charcoal starter.



Cut both ends off an old very large tin can. Punch several holes near the bottom of the can, then punch two holes near the top and insert a length of coat-hanger wire through them to form a handle. When it comes time to start a fire, put the can into the fire pit, place a piece of crumpled newspaper in the bottom and lay briquettes on top of the newspaper. Light the paper through the holes punched at the bottom. When the briquettes are glowing, lift the can away with the wire handle — it will be extremely hot, so be sure to wear gloves or use tongs when grabbing it.




  •  Tin-can candle holder



Don't curse the darkness. Instead, make a reflective candle holder. When opening a large can of tomatoes or some other can with a pull ring, keep the lid partially attached. Once you have finished the contents, wash out the can and bend back the lid so it faces straight upward. Put a candle inside and then place the can so the lid blocks the wind. The candle will burn steadily — and seem brighter as the lid will reflect the light.




  •  Great (cotton wool) balls o' fire



Nothing is more frustrating than trying to start a fire when the wood is damp and won't ignite, so here's a trick to warm an outdoor enthusiast's heart. Pack a dozen or so cotton balls, heavily saturated with petroleum jelly, into a plastic bag. When a fire just won't get going, place several of the balls among the paper scraps and kindling and light them. Then get your food ready to cook, since the petroleum jelly usually burns long enough to get even the most reluctant campfire blazing.




  •  Repurpose empty sweet tins



Once you've finished a tin of mints, cough lollies or other sweets, save the tin. They are a great weatherproof carryall for:




  1.  Fishing hooks and artificial flies

  2.  Matches

  3.  Aspirin

  4. Packets of sugar and artificial sweeteners

  5. Safety pins

  6.  Loose change and keys that you don't want to carry in pockets while fishing, hiking or doing other outdoor activities.




  •  Floss it while camping



Dental floss, with its super-strong waxed string, is useful for many other purposes when you are camping, including:




  1. Hanging stuff Floss is so strong that you can use it to hang a small lantern, shaving mirror and other gear from a branch.

  2. Repairing canvas gear Floss is slender enough to thread through the eye of a needle, yet sturdy enough to hold canvas in place, making it ideal for mending tents, backpacks and tarpaulins.

  3.  Cutting and slicing food Hold a piece of floss taut and slice your way through cheese, cake and other soft foods.




  •  Shampoo to the rescue



Though shampoo may seem like a luxury item when you are camping, it's well worth putting some into a small plastic container that easily fits into a backpack or bag. Not only will it keep your hair squeaky clean, but it can also be used to do the following:




  1.  Lubricate a tent zip

  2.  Remove sap and other sticky stuff from your hands

  3. Stand in for shaving cream when you decide to get rid of stubble.




  •  Vinegar at your campsite



Vinegar will add a bit of zest to campsite meals, but it also:




  1. Repels gnats and mosquitoes Just dab some white vinegar onto exposed skin.

  2. Traps flies and mosquitoes Pour some apple cider vinegar into a container and place it on a picnic table or anywhere else these pests tend to congregate.

  3. Helps to kill bacteria in water Add a few drops of cider vinegar to a water bottle.




  • Wave goodbye to sand on the beach



 You probably come home from a day at the beach with plenty of sand in the car, in your shoes, on your clothes, not to mention what ends up in the house. Leave the sand where it belongs by taking a plastic bag partially filled with baby powder. When you're ready to go, dip your feet and hands into the powder and dust some more powder over the rest of your body. When you brush off the baby powder, the sand will easily brush off with it.









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Travelling with children



  •  Keep baby essentials organized



Pack a separate self-sealing bag with the essentials your children need each day — a stack of wipes, a change of clothing and some disposable nappies. If you have more than one child in tow, prepare a separate bag for each child. This way you won't have to search through suitcases to put outfits together when dressing the troops every morning.




  •  Save empty washing-up liquid bottles



If you've travelled with children before, you know the mess they can create. Prepare yourself for the inevitable by saving an empty (but unrinsed) bottle of washing-up liquid. Fill the bottle with water before you set out and tuck it away in a leak-proof, self-sealing plastic bag, along with some paper towels or face washers. Use this cleaning kit to wipe faces after snacks, wash hands after bathroom stops and clean up spills and smudges in the car and hotel room.




  •  A mini plastic carrier



Young travellers will enjoy keeping small personal items — such as coins or tiny toys — in a carrier they've made themselves. All you need is an empty film canister or pill bottle and a key ring with a plastic spring-lock clip that attaches to belts or backpacks (the clips are sold in hardware shops and many discount and bargain shops). Help them by cutting two holes near the top of the canister to accommodate the metal ring, and then let them decorate it.




  •  Map fun for little navigators



One way to keep children busy on a road trip —and teach them about geography as well — is to help them follow your route on a map. While planning the trip, cut out and colour photocopy the portion of a map that corresponds to your route for each day of travel. Attach the segments to a clipboard, give the children some washable markers and get them to chart your course and check off towns and landmarks as you go. If you need directions, you might be able to get some help from the back seat.




  • A backseat snack tray



Little appetites always seem to get bigger on car trips. This fun way to dish up snacks may be exactly what you need to keep the children satisfied. Thoroughly wash an empty plastic or polystyrene egg carton with warm soapy water (for short journeys and dried foods use a clean cardboard one). Fill each compartment with a different treat — cheese cubes in one, breakfast cereal in another, dried fruit in another. When the back seat crews are ravenous, simply pass the carton around.




  •  Double duty for fruit and vegetable bags



Onions, capsicums, citrus fruits and other fruit and vegetables often come in mesh bags. Once you have eaten what's in them, save the bags for a day of outdoor fun. Mesh bags are ideal for taking toys to the beach, or anywhere else that gear is likely to become sandy and dirty. At the end of the day, just put the playthings back into the mesh bag and rinse the whole lot out under a hose. If you can't find a mesh bag, take a plastic bag and punch holes in it — but only enough holes to allow the water to run out.




  •  Self-service



Family car trips can be a wonderful experience — and even more so when you're equipped with self-sealing plastic bags in various sizes. With some of the uses outlined on page 250 in mind, try taping a few bags to the back of one of the front seats on a long car trip so that children can reach them to get snacks, dispose of rubbish or to access pencils and crayons.




  •  Delicious pre-trip prep



A great way to prepare young travellers for the sights, smells and tastes that they experience on a family excursion is to have a living room picnic before you go, with foods that are likely to be encountered at your destination. While your intrepid gourmands are eating, take the opportunity to tell them about the history of the location, its geography and other interesting facts that they'll hopefully retain once they get where they're going. Or, better still, try to get them to help you prepare and cook the food, in the hope that being more involved in the process will make them more interested.




  •  Spray-bottle play



 On a hot day, a simple spray bottle can be a godsend for young travellers. Recycle a couple of spray bottles from the cleaning cupboard, clean them well, fill them with water and keep them on hand, then use them to:




  1.  Spray the kids while they're sitting on a beach, hiking or walking in the city.

  2.  Dress children in their swimming costumes and set them loose in a park or other public outdoor spot with a couple of spray bottles. Drenching one another — with parental approval — might be the highlight of your children's trip.








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Safely measures for travellers



  •  An improvised money belt



If you're pressed for time, you can make your own money belt out of a pair of old pantihose. Put your money, passport and other valuables into the foot of the pantihose and tie the top around your waist. And don't worry, your home-made money belt will be concealed by clothing.




  •  Point your shoes towards the emergency exit



When you check into a hotel, take a few minutes to study the fire-exit diagrams posted on the inside of your door. Then place your shoes by the door before you retire for the night, pointing them in the direction of the emergency exit in your corridor. This way, if an alarm goes off in your hotel room and you wake up and smell smoke, you won't panic trying to remember which way to turn to escape.




  •  Seal luggage latches



When you check your luggage onto a flight these days, you may be encouraged to leave them unlocked, in case security decides to inspect them. Thoughts of your luggage being chucked about and the latches popping open —and your belongings being made vulnerable to thieves — may well follow. Allay these concerns by covering the latches of your suitcase with just enough gaffer tape to fit over the fastenings. Security will then be able to inspect the bag by peeling back the tape, and hopefully they will retape the fasteners once they have finished. Use tape that matches the colour of your suitcase or travel bag so that your quick fix won't be obvious to potential thieves.




  •  Thwart pickpockets



A simple safety pin can make your wallet a lot more secure. Put your wallet into a pocket of your trousers or your jacket and close the opening with a safety pin in such a way that you can still squeeze the wallet out — but just barely. The pin will dumbfound anyone who attempts to pickpocket you, since you will undoubtedly notice the tug.




  •  A fine-toothed wallet protector



If you're a man, a wallet and a comb are two items that you probably carry with you at all times. But did you know that you could use them together to prevent pickpockets from taking your wallet? Place your comb in the fold of your wallet so that the teeth extend beyond the open edge; then double-loop a rubber band around the wallet through the teeth of the comb. When you put the wallet in your trousers pocket or the breast pocket of your jacket, the teeth will catch on the fabric when they are moved. So when a thief tries to slip the wallet from your pocket, the comb will act as both a barrier and an alarm.







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Quick fixes on the road



  •  A hole in your sole



Temporarily fix shoe soles using gaffer tape; the backing is waterproof, so your repair might hold up through a couple of downpours. If a broken shoelace is slowing you down, cut off a strip of tape that's about as long as your lace, roll it tightly (lengthways) with the sticky side in and thread your new 'lace' through the holes.




  •  Tape a broken car hose



You can use gaffer tape to fix petrol-powered locomotion, too: tear off a strip to make a quick repair to your car's broken water hose — but don't rely on your handiwork to get you any further than the nearest garage.




  •  Damp umbrella holders



Hate carrying around a wet umbrella? Make sure that you always have a plastic supermarket bag with you; simply stuff the closed umbrella into the bag, roll it tightly like a sausage, then stow it in your bag or pocket.




  •  Plastic bag 'galoshes'



Rain can really dampen your enthusiasm for walking or hiking — but you needn't let bad weather get in the way of your fun. After pulling on your boots, wrap each foot in a sturdy plastic bag. Your feet are more likely to stay dry and you can put your wet footwear into one of the bags when it's time to pack and move on.




  •  Wick water from wet shoes



To speed up air-drying, stuff water-soaked shoes and boots with crumpled newspaper to wick out the moisture. Speed the drying by placing shoes or boots on their sides, turning over from time to time and replacing damp newspaper.




  •  Freshen car air



When the air in your car is getting a bit stale, and one of those scented cardboard shapes dangling from the rear-view mirror isn't what you have in mind as a solution, plan ahead and bring a plastic bag filled with cotton wool balls soaked in pure vanilla extract, tea-tree oil or eucalyptus oil. Take out a couple, put them in the car's ashtray or cup holder and enjoy a natural scent that's far subtler than most overly perfumed commercial products.






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The handiest helpers



  •  Three ways that gaffer tape eases the traveller's life



To read in bed with light directed onto your book, just tape a small torch to the wall above your pillow (but not onto wallpaper). If you want to be able to come and go without the door locking behind you every time you step out, place a small strip of tape across the bolt. Do you prefer to sleep past dawn? Tape ill-fitting curtains shut to keep out the light.




  •  Put toilet-paper tubes to good use



You'll find plenty of uses for cardboard toilet-paper tubes in a hotel room — so save a few at home to take on your trip. Or, in the hotel, you could hoard some empty tubes before the cleaner has a chance to discard them. Here are more ways to use them:




  1.  If your laptop computer power cord is unruly or takes up too much space on your desk, loop the cord in a loose coil and stuff it inside the tube to keep it under control.

  2.  Pamphlets, small prints and other fragile paper mementoes almost never make it back home without a crease or two — so roll them carefully and insert them into the tube for safekeeping. For larger papers, you might need to tape two tubes together or bring along a tube from a roll of paper towel.

  3.  Mosquitoes are annoying roommates. If they appear unexpectedly and you're unprepared with spray or other repellants, make your own 'flypaper'. Just wrap some adhesive tape around the tube, sticky side out and set it upright on a flat surface.




  •  Buffer sore backsides



Long car rides can take their toll on your rear end and lower back. So why not turn a bit of bubble wrap into a comfy cushion? Just place a long double layer of bubble wrap, bubble side out, against the back and bottom of your car seat. Your body will conform comfortably to this handy padding. And if you go shopping along the way and come across a fragile item that you just can't resist buying, you'll have some packing material right at hand!




  •  Aromatherapy at 35,000ft



We all know how stressful air travel can be, so take along some relaxants that you can sniff. Before you leave home, drip some lavender or clary sage oil onto cotton wool balls. (Herbalists have long prescribed both for their calming properties.) Pack the cotton wool balls into a small, self-sealing plastic bag or pill bottle and take them out for a good whiff when you want to unwind or doze off. You might also want to dab some of these oils onto your skin as you would perfume so that you arrive at your destination smelling and feeling fresh.




  •  Cap your camera



When shooting a picture in the rain, slip a disposable shower cap (often provided in hotel rooms) over the body of your camera so that the lens pokes out of the cap opening. You'll be able to press any buttons you need to, thanks to the thinness of the plastic.




  •  A beanbag camera steadier



If you want to shoot pictures from a moving car, train or boat, you'll find it almost impossible to keep your camera steady. The answer is a makeshift beanbag. Just pop into a supermarket and buy some dried beans or rice, pour them into the foot of a stocking leg, tie it closed and rest your camera on the beanbag to keep it from vibrating as you snap your picture.





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Quick-fix carriers



  •  A plastic-bag filing system



Various sizes of self-sealing plastic bags provide an easy way to stay organized when you're on the move — small sandwich bags for receipts and large freezer bags for pamphlets, brochures, maps and other memorabilia you collect along the way. The more bags you bring, the more organized you will be. For instance, you might want to use separate bags for each place visited, for each type of receipt (restaurants, hotels, shops) or for each day of your trip.




  •  Pack big bags



It really does make sense: you can fill up garbage bags with dirty laundry when you travel. Heavy-duty bags are especially handy because you can just put them over your shoulder and head out to a laundromat. On a picnic or car trip, garbage bags come in handy for rubbish. And if you're not particularly self-conscious about looks, you can even cut a couple of slits for your arms and one for your head and wear a garbage bag as an improvised raincoat. It may look a little odd, but it works.



Note: if you forget to pack bin bags, the plastic laundry bags found in many hotels will do all these things (except for the raincoat — the plastic is too thin and the bag is too small).




  •  A handy coin holder



Don't discard torn pantihose — they can come in handy as a coin holder when you're on the move. To keep all the coins you get as change from cluttering the bottom of a purse or weighing down your pockets, tuck them into the foot of a pair of old pantihose, tie the top in a loose knot and store this moneybag in your suitcase. You won't have to lug around a lot of extra coinage, and since the loose change will be in one place, you can easily clip into your coin reserves as needed.




  •  Little moneybags



Foreign currency can flummox even the worldliest traveller, and it can take a while before you start feeling comfortable with unfamiliar coins and notes. For easier sorting, put notes and coins of various denominations into self-sealing plastic bags — a different bag for each denomination. When it's time to pay for something, you won't have to sort through a pile of mixed currency.




  •  The case for taking a pillowcase



Nothing adds a comforting feel to unfamiliar surroundings like laying your weary head on one of your own pillowcases. This nice touch of home takes up little room in your suitcase and it can do also double duty as the following:




  1. A protector To stop knitted garments such as jumpers from snagging on other items in your suitcase, slip them into a pillowcase.

  2. A laundry bag When the pillowcase becomes dirty, put your dirty clothes in it. Clothing will be less prone to mould and mildew when kept in a pillowcase than it will in a plastic bag, and you can just empty it before throwing it into the wash when you find a laundromat.




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Practical packing



  • Take tape along for the ride



Put a roll of clear sticky tape into your suitcase and see how useful it is when you are travelling. You can use the tape to:




  1.  Reseal the caps of any liquids that you open, such as shampoo and hair gel.

  2.  Make emergency repairs to dropped hems.

  3.  Fix a torn map.

  4.  Tape postcards and other mementoes into your travel journal.

  5.  Tape together earrings, cufflinks or any other tiny items that might go astray.

  6.  Remove lint from dark clothes.

  7.  Tape driving directions to the dashboard for quick reference.

  8.  Tape stray buttons to their respective garments for repair when you return to your hotel room.




  •  Recycle small plastic bags



The plastic bags that subscription magazines and catalogues often come in provide protection in suitcases, too — and they're just the right size for shoes and hairbrushes. To keep dirt or hair from getting onto your other belongings, slip shoes and brushes in, one to a bag.




  •  Pack jewellery into pantihose



It can be hard to handle jewellery when you're on the move; small items quickly get lost in luggage, and necklaces and other dangly jewellery tend to tangle up and snag clothing. Old pairs of pantihose provide an easy solution. Just cut out the feet, place a single piece of jewellery in each foot and tie them off with twist ties. Your jewellery will be protected and close to hand when you need it.




  •  Make a suitcase divider



Using the old false-bottomed suitcase trick can help keep packed items separate, so you'll be spared having to dig through layers of clothing to find your toothbrush or something else. Take some sturdy cardboard and cut out a piece that matches the width and length of your suitcase interior — this is your portable divider. Put items that you won't need until later on the bottom of the suitcase, lay the cardboard on top and place toiletries, a change of clothing and other items you need first on top of the cardboard. Or place shoes and other heavy items on the bottom, then put lighter clothing on top to make it less likely to crease during transit.




  •  Save cardboard tubes



Before heading off, save a few toilet-paper tubes and put them to work when you pack for a journey. Here are three ways that empty rolls can come in handy:




  1.  Stuff one or two tubes with socks and use them as shoe trees to keep leather shoes from becoming crumpled and creased.

  2.  Wrap necklaces and chains around a tube to prevent tangling.

  3.  Tape small pieces of delicate jewellery inside a tube for protection.




  •  A bit of bicarb



Bicarbonate of soda keeps lots of things fresh and odour-free — and it can do the same for the contents of your suitcase. There's no need to take a whole box; just fill a pill bottle or film canister with bicarbonate of soda and poke a few small holes in the top. A little might spill out in the course of your travels, but it's unlikely to harm anything in your bag. (To keep any spill contained, tuck the container into one of the open sleeves found in the interior of most suitcases.) Bicarb does more than just help to control odour. While travelling, you can dip into your supply to do anything from soaking tired feet to cleaning a Thermos. Caution: bicarbonate of soda may arouse suspicion when travelling by plane, so make sure that you don't have any in your carry-on luggage. Pack it into luggage that is going into the plane's cargo hold.




  •  Smooth out creases



When it comes to packing clothing, rolling beats folding. Rolled clothes are far less likely to crease — and take up less room in a suitcase as well. Roll them in:




  1.  Plastic dry-cleaning bags Drycleaners return clothing in sheer plastic bags because plastic prevents fabric from rubbing against fabric, creating tiny creases. Minimize creases by wrapping garments in these bags before rolling them up.

  2.  Stocking legs Simply cut off the legs of a pair of pantihose and slip a rolled garment into each one. If you leave the stocking foot sections on, use these pouches as secure compartments for cameras, MP3 players and other valuables; with a piece of clothing stuffed into a stocking leg, there is much less chance that these items will fall out and get lost in your luggage.




  •  Roll up your tie



A creased tie can spoil a smooth business look, but here's a way to ensure ties remain crease free every time you take one out of the suitcase. First, lay the tie out full length. Beginning with the narrow end, roll it into a coil. Take a sock and gently stuff the rolled-up tie inside. If you're forgetful, pin a note to the sock so that when you are rummaging through your suitcase for your tie you won't think you have left it behind.




  •  Pack a lunch box



Pack toiletries, and other items that might spill or leak when jostled, into a lunch box. Carrying cosmetics and toiletry items in such a compact, sturdy and separate case will also make it easier to get your hands on them. Of course, the lunch box will also come in handy when it is time to pack some snacks and drinks to take along on a picnic or a day of sightseeing.



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