I couldn't donate my worn undies, but I have saved them for travelling and ditched them as I went.

I work really hard to maintain a nice wardrobe of clothes for traveling. Ones that pack well, wear well, mix and match, are suitable for the weather and occasion, make me feel pulled together. I work harder on these pieces than my everyday clothes. For that reason, I wouldn't have anything in the outer wear category to leave behind (unless a pair of shoes got ruined by the rain or something along those lines).

I don't donate my undies either - that was in response to the suggestion of wearing old clothing and tossing them as you go along. Seems like such a waste to toss clothing that is obviously still useful if it is in good enough condition to take on a trip.

I've mentioned this before, but I'll do it again here (even though there will be folks who tell me I'm not normal :-d).

I pack as many undies as I'll need for the trip. I don't want to handwash my undies in the bathroom sink every other day. I don't even like to think about my dirty undies in the bathroom sink - they get washed in the machine. For a three-week trip, my undies take up less room than one top.

If I were going on a 10-month trip, of course I wouldn't take 10 months of undies, but I would expect to be doing laundry on a regular basis anyway, so I could simply toss my undies in the washing machine with the rest of my stuff each time.

I also don't travel in my old clothing. My old clothing is relegated to doing chores, not going out in public whether I'm in a strange town or not. Most of the clothes I take on vacation have been worn enough to know they're comfortable and look good, but not worn so much that they look tired and ready for the garbage.

As for the panty liner trick, I wouldn't do that on a regular basis. However, if you use panty liners, it does allow you to use the undies you had on during the flight for the next morning to go buy new undies when your luggage gets lost.

LOL, I think this is a hilarious thread, and I love seeing all the different opinions in the world!

My situation is different -- I'm a big person who lives in Japan, so when I go to America, I BUY underwear, wash it right away, and wear it through the trip. Then when I get home, I go through the drawer and throw out all the raggedy stuff. (-: But actually, taking it with me and throwing it away when I don't need it anymore does have a bit of merit.

Except . . . I'd be miserable travelling in a nasty bra -- I need the support a fairly new one gives me.

(-: This kind of flies in the face of conventional wisdom, though -- you know, "My mother told me to always wear clean underwear in case I was in an accident and had to be taken to the hospital." I can't remember the name of the wag who said if he had to be taken to the hospital, his underwear probably wasn't clean anymore . . .

Let me clarify one thing -- I don't take "old" clothes to discard as I go, I take "clothes I'm done with."

For example, in my travel drawer right now are black CK jeans I found at a thrift shop. They look new and fit well, but I think I see why they were contributed in the first place -- a faulty zipper. So, no, I don't want them, and no, I won't donate them back for another unsuspecting buyer. I will wear them one last time, so thrilled to be in Europe that I won't mind a contentious zipper!

Also in that drawer is a nearly new long-sleeved blouse, with an even newer ink stain. I don't want it, and neither would anyone else, but I travel in the off-season and it will go nicely under a pull-over sweater.

So I'm done with these clothing mistakes but will use them one last time. I like to plan ahead, as most of us do, and find it fun to glean items from my wardrobe for a week in Europe each year.

I must say I love this Forum -- a thousand minds are better than one!

I pack the type of microfiber underwear that packs up small and dries quick in case I need to launder it.

<i>I pack the type of microfiber underwear that packs up small and dries quick in case I need to launder it.</i>

Ditto. But I usually underpack underwear and forget to wash and am usually buying a few pairs at my destination.

But, FWIW, I have definitely been known to throw old clothes away while traveling. The biggest bang for my buck, I find, is tossing my undershirts, as they take up a lot of space.

dont like taking old underwear on an o/s trip
if im in accident i want to be found representing my country in the most dignified way


undies dont take up much space...and theyre easy to wash and dry so i dont see it as a space solution
it's the bulky thingsthat bother me like shoes and jackets and if you come from a country that has a mild climate you always end upo taking more warm bulky things esp if youre travelling in early summer to europe

old underwear...i dont like tossing it out until the elastic is gone or got holes so i couldnt wear it on a trip anyway..nothing more annoying
besides every trip is a chance to reconnect romantically, is it not? so let's not ruin the mood, ladies lol

I have to thank you all heaps for these great suggestions. I have just dug through my dresser and taken out older undies, 28 in all and I will pack them and throw them. I then decided to check out bras, I will do the same with them - so much less washing!! I am away for 6 weeks and will take a small selection of 'good' for when required.

I have begun to cull the clothes I was intending to take but still have a little too much but its 4 weeks till I leave for Europe and will continue to repack and weight to make life easier on this trip.

Thanks all, keep up the travel tips.

I'm surprised about those who have enough &quot;old&quot; undies to take and discard. Apart from a couple of shirts and jeans I keep for heavy duty yard work I don't keep old stuff. I can't imagine wearing old bras at all because elastic parts are usually the first to fail so the bra will not fit well.

As someone just mentioned above, if the idea is to lighten your load along the way, tossing just one single shirt is probably the same as a dozen undies-worth.

Yes I know it does seem funny, and I was a trifle bemused myself when I counted them all up, but they are still quite respectable, a little yellowed and my taste has moved on. They were all good brands when bought, so have stood the test of quality and time. Good time to part with them though!

If I take multiple pairs of undies, I usually wash along the way, but I save one fresh pair just for the last day and/or the plane ride home..handwashing undies never is the same as in the washer/dryer. I also pack one pair in my carry-on...sh**t happens and in case my luggage doesn't make it through, I have clean undies!!

I pack more than that :-) at least a clean top, undies, socks, etc. in my carry-on just in case the checked suitcase is delayed, I'm not stuck in the clothes I wore on the plane for days!

While the tips are perhaps useful, this is just a little more personal info than I really needed to ever know. My underwear is clean and thats all you need to know.

Happy travels.

Hello i here alot about buying new underwear and etc.. but how about traveling with your pets. http://www.pamperedk9club.com

I have really enjoyed reading this post!

My DH has a real thing about underwear when traveling. We went through some very lean times, when buying new underwear was quite a luxury. So now, when we go on vacation, it is one of his greatest enjoyments to be able to pack a goodly supply of clean, non-raggedy underwear.

Packing for a vacation is one time that you pay close scrutiny to how you will be dressing, and being sure that you are taking only what you really want/need to wear.

All of the methods listed here have meaning and merit for those posting it. As long as you can fit into a reasonable luggage allowance, there's a lot of room for personal preference.

P.S. Personally, I like to do laundry about 1 week into vacation, by dropping it off at a laundromat where they wash/dry/fold for you, when possible. For only a couple of extra bucks, I love the vacation-luxury feeling.

My first trip to Europe I came home with all the clothes I took and some I never wore plus souvenirs in bags etc. Every trip since then, I take clothes that are perfectly good but I don't particularly like wearing anymore. Those I wore for a few days and tossed out. I took a lot of older but good underwear and the same thing - out they went. Every trip since the first one I have come home with the same size luggage I left with and no shopping bags or other things - its great.

TRIED the vacation method one year for a 14 day plus trip and ran out having to ue my husbands.lol...and I do bring concenrated soap and line now..