Expert Reveals Four Travel Hacks to Keep Clothes Wrinkle-Free Without An Iron

Thank you to:

 Super Label Store, who provided the insights.



Wrinkled clothes can be one of the most frustrating parts of travel, especially when you step off a plane or out of a car and need to look polished fast.

Luckily, clothing expert Noor de Swart, founder and CEO of Super Label Store, has shared six smart, travel-friendly tips that help keep your wardrobe fresh and wrinkle-free without ever touching an iron.

The expert explains that different fabrics respond differently to moisture, heat, and handling. Clothing quality also plays a significant role in wrinkle resistance, with higher-quality fabrics that have good fiber content typically resisting wrinkling and holding their shape better. 

Overall, de Swart reveals that patience makes the biggest difference. "Most wrinkles happen when we rush the drying process. Taking a few extra minutes during laundry day saves hours of ironing time later." 

Don’t overpack

It may be tempting to fill every inch of a carry-on, but overpacking doesn’t help your clothes. “Clothes packed too tightly have no room to shift, so every crease becomes set,” de Swart warns. “Leaving a little space means your garments can breathe, and it’s easier to shake out any wrinkles on arrival.”

Another tip: use packing cubes. “They’re a game changer when used right. Pack cubes loosely and sort by fabric type so you’re not compressing wrinkle-prone items like linen with heavier ones like denim.”

De Swart also recommends packing wrinkle-resistant pieces when possible, such as polyester blends, knits, or items labeled as 'non-iron.'

“If you need to pack formalwear, go for garments with a bit of stretch or structure,” she adds. “They’ll hold up better in a suitcase and require less fixing when you arrive.”

Wear your bulkiest winter items in transit

Winter clothing is naturally bulkier, and trying to squeeze heavy coats, knitwear and boots into a suitcase is one of the quickest ways to create deep-set creases.

“When it comes to winter travel, your coat and boots don’t belong in your suitcase,” de Swart advises. “Wearing your bulkiest items during transit instantly frees up space and reduces the pressure that causes wrinkles.”

She suggests layering strategically for the journey. “You can always remove a coat once you’re seated and use it as a blanket or cushion on a cold flight. That way, it stays smooth rather than crushed under the weight of the rest of your luggage.”

The same applies to chunky scarves and thick knitwear. “If it’s something you’ll definitely wear at your destination, let it work for you on the journey instead of taking up valuable suitcase space,” she adds.

Rethink winter layers to reduce bulk and creasing

Packing smart for winter doesn’t mean packing more. In fact, fewer high-quality layers often outperform a suitcase stuffed with bulky jumpers.

“Lightweight base layers made from materials like merino wool or thermal blends are ideal for winter travel,” de Swart explains. “They’re warm, breathable and far less prone to creasing than thick cotton knits.”

She recommends limiting heavy sweaters to one or two versatile pieces and building outfits around thinner layers instead. “You can wear the same jumper multiple times without anyone noticing, especially in winter, but overpacking bulky items leads to wrinkles you can’t fix without heat.”

Choosing structured winter garments also makes a difference. “Coats, trousers and dresses with a bit of stretch or lining tend to hold their shape far better in a suitcase,” she adds. “They’ll come out looking sharper, even after long journeys.”

Smart packing strategies

You may have already noticed that your clothes are usually wrinkled after traveling, even if it's just a couple of hours. But the clothing expert has a simple trick that will help your clothes arrive in better shape at your destination – tissue paper. 

“When packing, place tissue paper between layers of clothing. It creates a soft buffer and helps prevent the pressure wrinkles that come from tight packing,” she explains.

She also recommends rolling garments instead of folding when packing a suitcase – especially for knitwear and casual shirts. “It not only saves space, but rolling helps minimize hard crease lines that are tough to shake out on the road,” she adds.

Shake and smooth straight from your suitcase

Proper handling is key to preventing stubborn wrinkles from forming in the first place, even after clothes have been folded and packed tight.

If you’re living out of a suitcase or hotel room, de Swart advises hanging your clothes as soon as you arrive. “Give them a quick shake and hang them in a steamy bathroom. This simple step relaxes the fibers and removes many creases that form during transit. Most people unpack and immediately fold or stack their clothing again, which just sets in the wrinkles,” she explains.

Skip hotel irons: Use steam to your advantage

Travelers often rely on a hotel iron to remove wrinkles from their clothes, but de Swart suggests another approach: steam.

“Hang the garment in the bathroom while taking a hot shower. The steam works surprisingly well, especially with lightweight or delicate fabrics,” she says. For best results, close the door to trap the steam, and gently pull on hems and seams as the fibers relax.

She also suggests packing a travel-size spray bottle to lightly mist clothes with water before hanging them up. “A light mist combined with gravity and steam works wonders, especially when you don’t have access to a dryer.”