Happy Friday: DIY Packing Cubes

By Bryn | Operations Manager

May 12, 2017 @ 6:38 PM MDT

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Sent from reader, Elsee:

Our family of 5 recently went to visit relatives for a week long stay. You can imagine packing was extremely difficult and time consuming. I wanted to make unpacking as quick and as easy as possible so that I would be able to start enjoying my vacation as soon as we arrived.

Instead of going out and buying “packing cubes,” I used the thick heavy plastic bags that sheets, pillow cases and other linen items onlinee in. The smaller ones I used per person for socks, accessories, and underwear. The big ones (like from a quilt) I used to pack for activities or incidentals that the whole family would need at the same time like everyone’s swimming items in one bag or rain jackets and sweaters in another.

As soon as we got to our destination, I unpacked the whole bag into drawers. Unpacking took a few minutes and everything stayed grouped nicely together and was easy to find. I thought others might find it useful and can enjoy using these “free packing cubes” to make packing and unpacking easier.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

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Join The Discussion

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Mourrene May 12, 2017 at 6:44 pm MST

Great suggestion! Thanks.

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Collin (Mrs. Hip) May 14, 2017 at 10:05 am MST

You’re welonlinee!

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Tolu May 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm MST

Awesome! I already do this.

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Collin (Mrs. Hip) May 14, 2017 at 10:05 am MST

Perfect!

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Jules May 12, 2017 at 6:48 pm MST

I always save these bags too from pillows and bedding. I use them for stuffed animals, blankets, seasonal pillows. I throw in a dryer sheet to keep it fresh. These last much longer than any large ziploc storage tote or space bags.

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Gerta May 13, 2017 at 6:30 am MST

I like the idea of using these to organize toys…our dogs have way too many dog toys and putting a dryer sheet in will keep that funky dog smell at bay!

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Collin (Mrs. Hip) May 14, 2017 at 10:06 am MST

How cool! Thanks for sharing!

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Lakshi May 12, 2017 at 7:11 pm MST

I save these too! They are surprisingly very sturdy. Used them to store stuff but this an awesome idea!.

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Edy May 12, 2017 at 7:18 pm MST

Used this ones to collect unwanted clothes from my daughters rooms and mine and when I go to Mexico , just throw them in the car and give them away to relatives to either use them or sell the clothes thank you , in some I put gift bags bowls tissue for gift giving

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Cindy May 12, 2017 at 7:25 pm MST

I do the same thing too! When I cruise I put each bag on a different shelf and Im ready to go. I use the pillow case ones for my shoes and toiletries!

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Kelly May 12, 2017 at 8:06 pm MST

I use mine for my yarn hoarding problem.(And I know I’m not alone! 😂)

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Chrissy May 12, 2017 at 8:48 pm MST

You got that right! I use my small ones to store my tangled up ribbon and thread. I love how easy it is to find things cuz of the clear bag.

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LN May 12, 2017 at 8:20 pm MST

Us hispanics have been reusing these bags for many years. Cant believe alot of people are barely figuring it out. Smh

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LN May 12, 2017 at 8:24 pm MST

Already do this too. Has been shown from generation to generation

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Laura May 12, 2017 at 8:45 pm MST

Lol jodi. I don’t think LN was being rude. I think it was more of a realization bc it’s true a lot of the things we see here for repurposing or reusing are introduced as something new but many have been doing for years. It’s things passed down from generation to generation. Maybe he/she (LN) just found it unbelievable. 🙂

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Suzy May 13, 2017 at 5:47 am MST

I agree with Jodi, LN was quite rude in that response. I’m not hispanic and I have saved and reused these bags since I began purchasing goods packaged in them. It is rude to single out a certain group of people and make them look dumb.

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Chrissy May 12, 2017 at 8:49 pm MST

I have to agree not the nicest onlinement I’ve seen on here.

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Jodi May 12, 2017 at 8:53 pm MST

You’re probably right, Laura. I guess I just didn’t like the smh part. Seemed unnecessary . Maybe I’ve had a more stressful week than I thought lol. I’ll take it down a notch now. 🙂 thanks for the perspective !

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MommySpendsLess May 13, 2017 at 7:02 am MST

“smh” almost always irks me too, I really hope it goes out of style soon. Because it’s Internet speak and just three letters I think it gets used a lot in situations where someone wouldn’t actually respond that way in person. To me it conveys disappointment bordering on scorn and (to me) the person doing it almost seems to feel superior. Maybe I’m taking it too literally/sensitively though.

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brooke May 13, 2017 at 9:35 am MST

I’m so “out of the loop” that I actually had to go look up what SMH was… perhaps that will bring a smile to someone’s face. 🙂

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Emily May 12, 2017 at 9:04 pm MST

Always seems strange to speak for an entire race. I would never claim to speak for an entire race, gender, etc. And would have kept the smh part to myself if i were them. Sharing a good idea doesn’t mean they claimed to be the first and only to ever have the idea.

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Nina May 12, 2017 at 9:11 pm MST

Brilliant idea!

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Nicole May 12, 2017 at 10:54 pm MST

I LOVE these! They are better than any bag that I have purchased ON PURPOSE! 😉
I use them for keeping toy sets together. Bag each set, zip it and throw in a big in in the closet. Kids rooms never looked so clean 😉I also like the small pillow case ones with zippers for craft items!

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Lucy May 12, 2017 at 11:32 pm MST

Great idea! Thanks for sharing 🙂

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Collin (Mrs. Hip) May 14, 2017 at 10:08 am MST

YW!

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Briana Macy May 13, 2017 at 1:42 am MST

Love this! We use the laundry mesh bags that are multi-colored, one color per person. This way I hand each kiddo their bag and a list of what to pack, they fill their bag and I throw them all in a couple big suitcases. When we arrive we pull them out and line them up so each kid knows where their clothes are. The dirtys we put in one of the empty suitcases and when it’s time to leave we throw the colored bags in the other one. When we get home it’s super easy to dump out the dirtys in the laundry room and each kid takes their bag and puts any leftovers away. I got most of the laundry bags at the dollar tree, so super cheap for our family of nearly 8. 🙂

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Young May 13, 2017 at 7:01 am MST

I totally agree with you, Jodi.

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Jessica May 13, 2017 at 8:05 am MST

Last vacation. I also used shoprite grocery store bags to separate each child’s outfit for each day. I pUT a full outfit with socks and underwear in each bag then labeled it with the childs name and it made it easy for them to grab clothes for the day without messing up an entire suitcase of clothes.

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Jana May 13, 2017 at 4:38 pm MST

I thought I was the only one who reused these! I store our linens in them and then keep them in each bedroom in the closet.

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Mama Bearsville May 19, 2017 at 8:04 am MST

Such a great idea! Thanks for posting.

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