The Traveler’s Spring Reset: Organize, Declutter & Refresh
Spring has officially sprung and that means it is time for Spring cleaning!
While Spring cleaning may feel like more of a burden than a joyous celebration, it is the perfect time to declutter, organize and refresh.
This should also include Spring cleaning your travel gear! Completing this simple tasks will not only clear up space, but have your gear fresh and ready for take off when you are.
Wash suitcases & luggage
When is the last time you really cleaned your luggage? Some of us might give it a wipe down with a Lysol wipe every few trips, but is that really any match for luggage holds, overhead bins, hotel floors, trains, taxis, and whatever grit and grime we may drag them through on our travels?
A good deep clean can help combat the ick and also prolong the life of luggage, so take the time give your cases a good scrub and wash backpacks, packing cubes, totes, etc.
Pooling information from amazing travel brands, including Eagle Creek, American Tourister, and Good Housekeeping, these are some tips on how to properly clean varying types of luggage:
To wash a suitcase, start by emptying and vacuuming it to remove loose debris. For the exterior, a damp cloth with mild soap or a disinfectant wipe is usually sufficient. For tougher stains, use a soft-bristled brush or a magic eraser. The interior can be wiped down with soapy water, followed by a rinse and drying. If needed, you can disinfect the suitcase with a solution of water and white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Removable liners can be hand-washed or put in the washing machine on a delicate cycle.
Detailed Steps:
1. Empty and Vacuum:
Remove all contents from the suitcase.
Vacuum the interior to remove dust, crumbs, and other debris.
Shake the suitcase outdoors to remove any remaining loose dirt.
2. Clean the Exterior:
Soft-sided suitcases: Use a damp cloth with mild soap and water, or a disinfectant wipe.
Hard-shell suitcases: Wipe down with a solution of dish soap and water, using firm, circular motions.
Scuff marks: Use a magic eraser or a paste of baking soda and water to remove scuff marks.
3. Clean the Interior:
Wipe down the interior with a damp cloth or sponge soaked in soapy water.
Pay close attention to any soiled areas or spills.
Rinse with clean water and dry with a towel.
⭐Always consult care labels and manufacturer recommendations for washing.
Sell or Donate luggage/bags
Decided to try out being a backpacker but went back to suitcases? Upgraded your luggage sets but still have your old set? Converted to carry one only and still have that 32” case? Bought a better functioning personal item but held on to the old one?
It is time to sell or donate those excess pieces of luggage, backpacks, bags, totes, etc.
There are many organizations such as shelters, foster care organizations, GoodWill, that will happily accept luggage donations, just be sure to call ahead to schedule your donations.
If you have pieces you would prefer to sell to add to your travel fund, Poshmark, Facebook market, and travel buy and sell groups are great places to do so.
clean out & Organize Toiletries
Travel size toiletries can accumulate quickly and are great to have on hand for your next trip, but be sure to check expiration dates (especially on SPF and medications) to assure you aren’t taking expired products along on your next trip.
Also check how much product is remaining in each bottle. If it’s not enough to take on another trip, rinse and recycle those bottles or give them a clean to refill and reuse.
If you use refillable bottles, this is also a great time to give them a good cleaning so they are ready to be refilled for your next adventure.
Deep clean/sanitize travel pillow, earbuds, etc
Just like luggage, your travel accessories can get pretty gnarly after a few trips.
When was the last time you washed your travel pillow? Did you cringe reading that and thinking about putting your face on it? Then it may be time to give it a wash.
Earbuds, e-readers that go in the seat pockets, travel blankets, etc should all get a good wipe down or wash.
Repair any damaged luggage
We can all be guilty of “I will deal with that later” then putting things off, and luggage repairs are easily put off when we don’t use these items on a frequent basis.
Don’t wait to pull out your suitcase to realize you never tightened that wheel, or replaced that zipper pull or buckle that fell off on your last trip.
This is also a great time to review luggage warranties and use them if your luggage has any damage.
Remember that warranty repairs often requiring sending luggage to the company, which can take time, so be proactive in getting those repairs well before your next trip.
Don’t have a warranty? Cobblers (shoe repair) and tailors are often very capable resources for fixing luggage.
Toss or use “collectables”
All those plane tickets, brochures, maps, etc that you have been saving to make a scrap book, collage, macramé your walls with still just sitting in a pile?
It is time to get that project underway, or accept that it is never going to happen and let those things go.
If you’re not ready to accept defeat, organize these items and put them in a protective container (or Ziploc) so they stay in good condition when the time comes to put them to use.
Organize currency
That Zip-loc bag or jar full of random left-over currency? It is time to organize it.
Avoid returning from a trip and tossing money into that bag, just to realize there is the same currency you could have used on that trip by getting it organized now.
Separate clear bags or a labeled accordion folder are great ways to keep money organized.
Have currency you may never use again? Take it to an exchange, create a project out of it, or seek out someone who may use it.
Try on travel specific clothes
We know clothes can shrink and expand while tucked away between trips, so while doing your closet Spring cleaning, this is a great opportunity to try on any travel-specific clothes.
You don’t want to find out things don’t fit the way you want while packing for your next trip or after arrival.
Also check for any rips, tears, stains, etc and repair or donate accordingly.
⭐Don’t forget to try on and check shoes specific to travel. This is an ideal time to change out the shoelaces on your hiking boots, polish your travel booties and check the treads on your walking sneakers.
Get rid of/donate repeat items
As we upgrade items, are gifted, or buy new ones on arrival because we forgot ours (oops) we tend to accumulate multiples of the same things or items that serve the same purpose, but do we really need 4 toiletry bags, 6 portable fans, 3 neck pillows, etc? Probably not.
Take this time to clear out the clutter and donate, sell, or gift these repeats.
Organize
Once you have checked all your expiration dates, scrubbed down suitcases and bags, eliminated repeats, scaled down on stuff, and fixed or replaced travel items, it is time to get it all organized!
This can look very different for everyone, so we recommend finding a system that works for you and makes packing the most streamlined and stress free for all your travels.
Now that all your travel gear and accessories are clean, decluttered and organized, there is only one thing left to do:
Book your next vacation!
And who better to do that with than the knowledgeable and capable team at GWA Travel Collective? Reach out to our team to start planning your next dream getaway today.
