How do you unpack once you get back home?

[Julesmac]

I have a similar packing procedure, except for a seperate wallet. That seems a bit, er... excessive.

I guess it reduces the chance of leaving some essential item or other behind!!

 

[Vic]

I unpack immediately as the next trip will be in a couple of days. Down time, is not time to have jobs hanging around while I'm trying to re-energise before the next trip

 

[pauly7]

Work trips: I pack very lightly so everything that comes back needs washing - gets dropped off immediately to laundry/dry cleaners and back in 2 days for next trip! Toiletries are my travel kit so stay in bag. Electronics are work anyway so are in my briefcase. Done. Takes about 10 seconds.

Leisure trips: I only go to warm places so again very light luggage, and prefer to launder while away rather than lugging American sized suitcases all around the world

 

[Hvr]

Come home and put the clothes in the machine.
Passport and foreign cash in the storage place.
Luggage put away.

Collect cat from Pet Hotel. Play with cat for an hour or so.

Check card transactions on line to ensure no dodgy transactions.
Check FF statement to ensure all points/SCs posted.

Start countdown to next trip.

 

[VPS]

Thing is, without the husband I would be all carry on. I just did 3.5 weeks in Iceland and Netherlands with 2 tshirts, 2 knickers, 1 pair socks, 1 skirt, 1 tights, boots (which I donated to a shelter in Iceland) cossies, bra, pharm supplies and 1 fleece jacket. His photography stuff, spares kit plus tripod and all the stuff he buys while we're on hols is why we need check in. I even buy toiletries on arrival so I dont have to pack them.

Going to have to count how many tshirts he bought on this trip (when I finally open the bag) but Im guessing its about 20.

So do you buy toiletries at all the places you go to - I often hear people say they are too heavy to carry but unless you're staying in the one spot then you've got to pack them at some stage. My other issue is I have to use soap free everything and it's not always easy to find

 

[Denali]

So do you buy toiletries at all the places you go to - I often hear people say they are too heavy to carry but unless you're staying in the one spot then you've got to pack them at some stage. My other issue is I have to use soap free everything and it's not always easy to find

Toothpaste, mouthwash, hair product ect, yes I usually buy when we get there. I do pack toothbrushes. Hotels provide toiletries so I dont usually need to buy much and I leave what I bought at the last hotel before leaving. I rather pack familiar chemist items for "just in case" care than toothpaste ect.

 

[VPS]

I guess it varies because I often stay at places that don't always provide toiletries but they are cheaper

 

[Pushka]

Toothpaste, mouthwash, hair product ect, yes I usually buy when we get there. I do pack toothbrushes. Hotels provide toiletries so I dont usually need to buy much and I leave what I bought at the last hotel before leaving. I rather pack familiar chemist items for "just in case" care than toothpaste ect.

I can’t be bothered shopping for stuff like this when I arrive somewhere so usually take it. And rarely use the provided shampoos etc. So again that’s lugged with me.

 

[love_the_life]

Cruising tips:
1 Balconies are great place to dry laundry.
2. Balconies are also good places to lose laundry…..leads to..
3 As well as our de rigeur clothes lines, we also bring along a few hooks and other stuff to facilitate clothesline construction..leads to
4 Ship and hotel designers must have, as a part of their brief, a requirement that no bathroom or balcony may have anything to which a clothesline might be attached.

I thought passengers were requested not to leave anything unattended on the balcony. Apart from the risk of being blown away it can look like a Chinese laundry on some ships!
Many (if not most) hotel rooms and most ship cabins I’ve been in have a pull out line over the bath or in the shower.
Besides, I just shut my eyes and use the hotel/ship laundry if I need. In the overall scheme of things it’s a negligible cost.

 

[JessicaTam]

The cruise we are going on has free laundry facilities including detergents so those will be muchly used.

I take a small container of detergent with me. The laundomat stuff is way too strongly scented for my liking.

Come home and put the clothes in the machine.
Passport and foreign cash in the storage place.
Luggage put away.

Collect cat from Pet Hotel. Play with cat for an hour or so.

Check card transactions on line to ensure no dodgy transactions.
Check FF statement to ensure all points/SCs posted.

Start countdown to next trip.

You wait until you are home before starting the next trip countdown?

 

[Pushka]

I take a small container of detergent with me. The laundomat stuff is way too strongly scented for my liking.

You wait until you are home before starting the next trip countdown?

Good point. I currently have three in hand. Drron and mrs.drron have taught me well.

 

[ladynextdoor]

I always take a large garbage bag, or two smaller ones, fold all my dirty washing each day and place items in the bag/s throughout the trip. Folding makes for easier packing. Once home, I remove bag/s and pop in the laundry to wash when I feel like it.

 

[Denali]

Almost finished unpacking, which is why I dont like to travel with dirty clothes as its been a week so far

Hubby bought 20 new tshirts and 4 new beanies.

 

[oz_mark]

Open washing machine. Open baggage. Tip contents of bag into washing machine

 

[mrsterryn]

Open bag downstairs.
Packing has been packed with clean clothes and dirty clothes separated
Clean clothes upstairs and dirty clothes are into washing machine.
By the time husband has got home with the dog from boarding (about and hour and a half ) first load is done and in dryer and second load is on
I am curious what people do about their beds

Do you make it before you go with fresh linen or air it and make when you come home ?

 

[flyingfan]

I can't stand leaving a mess so as soon as I get home I get the first and sometimes further laundry loads underway. I also try to make sure I'm starting off with a clean slate, ie do as much laundry as possible immediately before leaving for my trip. Usually my desire to clean up outweighs my lethargy at the end of a trip so I'll go to work unpacking the toiletries (including the hotel/aircraft hauls I try to collect) etc. Worst case it'll be done the next day.

tbh haven't been fussed about bed linen, everything else usually takes precedence and even if the linen has been sitting idly for a few weeks, my own bed is usually far more comfortable and welcoming than the strange and unfamiliar ones I've had on holiday

 

[OATEK]

Place case on dining room table. Remove all items for washing and dump in bath (as washing basket fills so fast). Walk past what is left in bag for up to a week until finally unpacking the rest. Like others I have a separate wallet for travel with my fee-free MC, Transport & other cards (eg Oyster) and some cash (usually Euros, GBP and sometimes some USD). I also have chargers, plugs etc for OS that remain permanently in my travel case.

 

[williamsj]

You could always use my method of unpacking, I upend both cases onto the queen size bed in 3rd bedroom, put the dirty washing into the laundry basket and then close the door until I feel like tackling the mess

Mine is opposite, dump everything in the middle of our "family" area, then take out washing, and move all items to their respective rooms. I may not fully put away once in its room, but the back is broken within being home 2 hours.
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You could always use my method of unpacking, I upend both cases onto the queen size bed in 3rd bedroom, put the dirty washing into the laundry basket and then close the door until I feel like tackling the mess

You could always use my method of unpacking, I upend both cases onto the queen size bed in 3rd bedroom, put the dirty washing into the laundry basket and then close the door until I feel like tackling the mess

have 4 small pods 1xdirty clothes/1xitems for flight/1x for items for 1 night in hotel/ix set spare clothes all go in 7kgs carry on back pack plus my handbag and l

 

[daft009]

My 2yo opens my bags looking for goodies for himself.. I just need to unlock it

 

[JohnK]

I can’t believe that nobody has said “what, you don’t have household staff to do that?”

I've been known to unpack occassionally but most times mum or wife take the dirty clothes out and wash them and iron them. I then pack the clothes next time we're ready to go.

Next trip I'm trying something new. Wife has washed and ironed all the clothes from last trip. I will now pack bag and leave in Brisbane until next trip in July/August.