How many times have you packed a compact full of setting powder in your luggage, just to open it post-flight and find nothing but broken pieces? Or how about this: You've shoved a bunch of hair elastics in your bag last minute, just to continually find them floating around in the same suitcase one year later. Everyone says you shouldn't sweat the small stuff, but the only reason they're able to say that is because of one thing: Hacks.

Travel hacks, no matter how big or how small, can save us time, money, and space. When it comes to packing a suitcase, we consider ourselves to be somewhat of a team of experts... So it's our job to guide future travelers on how to pack, and how to pack in the smartest way possible. For all the things you don't have solutions for, we do.

15 Pack Jewelry With Straws And Buttons

Okay, yes - plastic straws are bad. However, they can only be bad if they're being used once and then thrown away. There are two ways to do this: You can either use plastic straws and hold onto them or invest in cardboard straws to string necklaces and bracelets through. Eco-friendly and functional.

14 Socks Can Function As Protective Padding And Foot Coverings

We're not saying to go out and buy a whole new pack, but you probably shouldn't use a pair of already-worn gym socks. Socks are great for protecting anything fragile in your luggage, whether it be glass perfume bottles or breakable souvenirs.

13 Just Marie Kondo Your Clothes To Fit Any Suitcase

Loyal followers of the Marie Kondo method will know that her folding process is simple and quite effective. Even if you don't follow it for the zen benefits, it's often a great tutorial for saving space in a suitcase and for keeping everything neat, organized, and in its proper place.

12 Go The Extra Mile And Cover Cosmetic Bottle Openings With Plastic Wrap

One can never be too careful with liquids. Unless it's a brand new bottle of something with a protective seal, go the extra step and layer some plastic wrap over that bad boy. When worse comes to worst, the last thing any of us want is lotion spilled all over our clean vacation clothes.

11 Shower Caps Are Cheap, Bring Two For Shoe Containment

It looks super weird but trust us on this one. Shower caps might be totally 1950s, but they're coming back in 2020 to save your clothes. Now, you can pack your shoes (sole-side-down, no less) right on top of your clothes without all the mess. Unless you have gargantuan feet (in which case, four shower caps + tape), this should work.

10 Keep Chargers In A Cosmetic Bag And Use Hair Elastics To Keep Them Separated

All those freebie cosmetics bags you get really can have purposes other than just holding makeup - it's mind-blowing, we know. Aside from makeup, these can also hold chargers, and a great way to separate them is by roping an elastic around each one.

9 Contact Lense Cases Can Be Used To Hold Small Amounts Of Products

We're sure you've seen this before, but it's still brilliant. Since contact lense cases automatically fit in with the TSA-approved standard for liquids, there's no reason you can't fill them with makeup products. That way, there's no waste, no mess, and no potentially broken foundation bottle.

8 Place Cotton Pads Over Cosmetic Powder Compacts To Prevent Damage

Reusable cotton pads are an awesome eco-friendly purchase and they also come in clutch when it comes to saving compacts. For pressed powders, all you need is one cotton pad over the product in order to maintain its integrity throughout your travel time.

7 Cotton Balls Can Be Used To Pad Makeup In A Cosmetic Bag

Whether it's brushes, products, bottles, eyeshadows, or any other type of makeup, cotton balls are the only thing you need. Stuff a few of these into your cosmetic bag to use as a cushion, then when you arrive, use them for fast makeup-removal. They pull double-duty!

6 Pack According To Each Item's Weight: Heaviest At The Bottom

Rule of thumb: Always pack the heaviest things (shoes, sweatshirts, hair tools) at the bottom of your suitcase. This is especially true for rolling bags, as their balance is the only thing keeping you from wobbling up the escalator at the end of the day.

5 Throw A Dryer Sheet At The Bottom Of Your Suitcase To Keep Things Fresh

You can even cut it in half if the scent is too strong. This is a great hack for gym bags, too (don't deny it... we all know what that smell is like!). Especially if you're storing dirty laundry in the same luggage bag as clean clothing, it'll make everything smell like fresh cotton.

4 Store Extra Cash In An Empty Chapstick Container

Not everyone brings petty cash with them on trips but if you do, this is a pretty neat hack. An empty chapstick container can be used to carry small bills (we wouldn't suggest putting anything huge in there), and easily stored in luggage, a purse, or a secure pocket.

3 Keep Hair Accessories On A Carabiner

Or a keychain ring. Or just a ribbon. Really, elastics can be stored on anything they can be slid onto as long as the circle can be closed. This makes traveling with long hair a breeze, especially since you'll never again waste time pulling clothes out in an effort to find even one hair tie.

2 Pack Smaller Makeup Brushes In A Sunglasses Case

Just in case you've already used your cosmetic bag for charger cords, we've got you covered here, too. Everyone has old sunglasses (or glasses) cases lying around, so you might as well use them! They're usually the perfect size for smaller, travel-sized makeup brushes.

1 Rolled-Up Belts Can Be Used To Keep Collars Shapely

Business trips can be made ten times more stressful when you're trying to keep pressed shirts from losing their shape. Collars, especially, can be tricky - but easily fixed. A rolled belt (preferably a leather one) is great for keeping them structured until landing when you can hang them up.