The Art of Unpacking
Dear Lovely,
I’ve spoken at length about how I pack my suitcase, specifically the art of traveling with a carry-on. But what about un-packing? Beyond the basics of putting my toiletries in the bathroom or stowing my suitcase, I do have a few other unpacking rituals that I swear by, and wanted to share them with you.
When returning from a trip, obviously there will be some things that are dirty and go directly into the wash. Even if I unpack a t-shirt I didn’t wear, I will probably go ahead and wash it for sanitary reasons. I don’t want it smelling like airplane, and I just want to know it’s clean.
But what about those garments that aren’t dirty, but aren’t really washing machine friendly either? What about that silk dress? Or a gabardine wool suit? Or the beautiful lace top? Sure, you could take it to the dry cleaners, but frequent dry cleaning isn’t always necessary—and repeated cleaning can eventually take a toll on delicate fabrics. Sometimes it’s absolutely the right choice, but if the garment isn’t actually dirty, why make a special trip, spend the extra money, or clean it more aggressively than necessary?
Whether arriving at a destination or returning home, there are two products I like to have in my unpacking arsenal, plus I have a specific method of using them.
Nellie’s Wrinkle B-Gone and Antistatic
I like Nellie’s because the products are free of toxins and phosphates. They are also eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, and highly effective. Nellie’s Wrinkle B-Gone is plant-based and does an excellent job of releasing wrinkles when your tightly packed suitcase has left a few in your favorite garments. Nellie’s is scented with Lemongrass, so it leaves clothes smelling fresh.
Once the clothes from my suitcase that don’t need washing or dry-cleaning are hung, I go through and spray anything that’s wrinkled with Nellie’s. Sometimes I let it hang in the bathroom with a very hot shower running to give it a little steam with the Wrinkle B-Gone if needed. Or I iron it using my Nori Steam Iron.
Grow Fabric Refresher Spray
My next favorite product is the Grow Fragrance Sprays. They are 100% plant-based and toxin free. Friends, I use these sprays all the time: when folded clothes in drawers smell musty, as a room spray, on my sheets before I make the bed, and yes, on my clothes when I unpack from a vacation.
You may be wondering why I would use the Grow Fragrance Spray if I’ve already sprayed it with Nellie’s which is scented with Lemongrass. Well, I’ll tell you. I like the Grow Fragrance better. It’s not a necessary step, but one I take because I love the smell. My favorite scent from Grow Fragrance is the Woodland Sage. My second favorite is Pacific Driftwood.
Sunshine
Finally, after spraying with Nellie’s and/or Grow, I like to hang my clothing outside in the fresh air for a little while. There’s something about fresh air and sunshine that makes everything feel—and smell—refreshed. For delicate or richly colored fabrics, I keep them out of harsh, direct sunlight to protect against fading. Plus, I like to think the UV is a slight microbial.
That’s it. That’s my unpacking ritual. It may seem like too much hassle for some, and that’s totally fine. I keep my clothing for decades, though, and I try really hard to take care of them. These are inexpensive and simple ways to do just that.
A few tips:
1.) If you are carrying on, both the Nellie’s and Grow bottles are too big to pack. If you are placing and Amazon order, purchase Nellie’s, Grow, and also a set of my favorite travel bottles. Add them to your liquids bag when packing and you are set to unpack when you arrive.
Another option is to purchase small bottles from their respective websites—I’m not sure why but those sizes aren’t available on Amazon.
3 oz glass bottle of Nellie’s Wrinkle B-Gone on their website
Grow Spray Sampler Bundle on their website
2.) Because I’m a sucker for a decanter or pretty packaging, I like to purchase a few bottles of the Woodland Sage Grow spray and pour it into a pretty glass spray bottle. I ordered this one on Amazon. Then I leave that on the shelf in my bedroom in the area where I pack/unpack. This is a pretty option to leave in any room of the house that you want to look curated, pretty, and complete.
3.) I have 2 teenage boy athletes and a fear of their rooms, ergo my house smelling like stinky, sweaty, mildewy gym bag. Grow Fragrance is great to leave in their rooms for a little spritz when I walk in.
Packing well makes travel easier. Unpacking well helps the things we brought along last longer. And if I can keep a favorite silk dress looking beautiful for another decade with a little fresh air, a good spray, and five extra minutes of care, I’d say that’s time well spent.
