The One Martha Stewart Carry-On Hack We Wish We’d Known Sooner originally appeared on Parade.
When packing a suitcase, the first order of business is getting all your clothes to fit inside. While packing light is almost always a good idea, sometimes it’s just so hard to narrow down your wardrobe to a handful of outfits for your vacation. Stuffing clothing inside, sitting on your suitcase in order to get it zipped closed—we’ve all been there. While you may feel like the worst of your troubles is over upon sealing your suitcase, another issue might be waiting for you when you open it upon arrival at your destination: wrinkled clothes. And what good was all that work to bring all the clothes if they are creased beyond repair?
Leave it to Martha Stewart to teach us how to fix this packing problem. The entrepreneur, TV host, author and business mogul has long been one of America’s first “influencers,” gaining an audience by teaching women tips for hosting, cooking, decorating, gardening and all other things homemaking. It only makes sense that she has clever packing advice, too.
Related: This Simple Packing Hack Saves Me Every Time
Martha Stewart’s Packing Tip to Keep Wrinkles Out of Clothes
In a YouTube clip from The Hallmark Channel’s early 2000s series, “The Martha Stewart Show,” the hostess shares exactly how she packs her clothes in a carry-on suitcase (but it would work just as well in a checked suitcase!). To prevent delicate items from wrinkling (think: fabrics like linen, cotton and silk), Stewart encloses those items in garment bags from the dry cleaner. If you are the type to hang on to most items rather than toss them, you’re in luck—you don’t even have to buy anything to get wrinkle-free clothes on your next trip. If you are the more minimalist type and don’t already have garment bags stashed somewhere, Amazon can quickly solve that for you.
Related: The 5 Best Carry-On Luggage for Women Over 50, According to Travel Expert Mickela Mallozzi
Stewart recommends hanging the clothing item on a hanger, placing the garment bag over it and then rolling the whole item up before placing it into your suitcase. Garment bags provide a protective layer for your clothing, so not only will your clothes be safe from any dirty shoes that you might be packing, but the bags also reduce friction that causes fabric to crease and wrinkle. While these bags are designed for hanging clothes that would wrinkle if folded, they’ll still work to reduce wrinkles if you roll the bagged clothing item rather than fold it regularly. In fact, rolling all your clothing, bagged or not, will help to at least minimize wrinkles.
More Packing Tips From Martha Stewart
In the YouTube clip, Stewart also shares additional travel packing tips for packing everything else that has to go in her suitcase, like toiletries and shoes.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_2osadkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_4osadkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframeFor wrinkle-free clothes that you don’t want to hang, slip a piece of tissue paper between the folds of your clothes. This works similarly to the garment bag in that it reduces friction. The fewer folds the better, she recommends.
Use shoe bags to keep items organized and separate: shoes, underwear, socks, etc., can be stored in different bags.
Place carry-on-sized toiletries in a small makeup bag and carry that in your personal item. This will leave you with more room in your suitcase for clothing and shoes.
Related: The One Simple Rule Rick Steves Advises Everyone to Follow When They Travel
The One Martha Stewart Carry-On Hack We Wish We’d Known Sooner first appeared on Parade on Jul 18, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
