Can You Wrap Your Luggage At Home? Find Out Here! 

Can You Wrap Your Luggage At Home?

Definitely!

In the past decade, wrapping luggage in plastic has been popular among travelers, but why?

What Luggage Plastic Wrap Is Used For

Luggage wrapping is an easy way to protect your belongings.

It became a famous practice for travelers because it does not only protect their luggage from theft but also dirt and damage.

There are luggage wrapping services you can use when traveling by plane. You can find professional suitcase wrapping service in major airports, which would cost you around $20 per piece.

Luggage locks are great, but having additional protection is more reassuring - but it also costs extra money.

Doing it yourself could save you some money.

How To Wrap Your Luggage At Home

First off, you should buy enough plastic wrap to cover all your pieces of luggage.

Grocery store food plastic wrap won't cut it. Commercial wrap or industrial wrap is better than regular plastic wrap because it is specifically designed for packing supplies and moving companies.

Larger size shrink wrap is more expensive, but you can still find them on Amazon for less than $20.

Wrapping luggage is a tedious task. Make sure you do it right, so you don't waste your efforts.

  • Start in the middle and wrap around your luggage tightly.
  • Wrap the sides next.
  • Then wrap around the bottom and top.
  • Cover the entire surface of your luggage in plastic wrap and secure your wrap with tape
  • Cut holes for handles and the wheels
  • You're done!

Remember, the TSA may decide to do a security screening on your bag, so don't panic if you find all your hard work has been undone.

Another approach to luggage wrapping is wrapping your luggage crosswise and lengthwise - this mimics a luggage belt rather than a luggage glove. This method also uses less plastic wrap - saving you time and money. 

Tip!

Bring your wrap with you in case you want to pack your luggage for the trip back home or have to re-do the wrap because of a security check. It will also come in handy if you have an overstuffed suitcase that broke. You can use it to keep everything together temporarily. 

Also, don't forget to recycle your leftover packing materials when the trip is over - planet earth will thank you.

You can also label or mark your luggage in case it becomes unrecognizable after wrapping.

The Pros and Cons of Wrapping Luggage in Plastic at the Airport

International airports have been providing luggage wrapping services for years. Having another layer of protection for your luggage lessens the stress of traveling - but is it all good?

Pros Of Wrapping Your Luggage In Plastic

Covering your luggage with plastic will prevent theft and damage. The thick tampered proof film offers extra protection for your belongings from everything - from theft to damages from bad weather conditions, general wear and tears, dirt, and theft.

Wrapping your luggage makes it more difficult for someone to steal something in it. It also gives you the chance to see what kind of person is stealing your stuff because the plastic could capture the person's fingerprint. 

Plastic wraps also stop people from putting unauthorized Items inside your luggage that could get you in trouble.

The tight seal also keeps your belongings in place so they don't shake and damage your expensive items or fragile items while on a shaky flight or in the hands of rough baggage handlers.

It also gives you peace of mind. 

Cons Of Wrapping Your Luggage In Plastic

The TSA is now checking bags more often than ever before, and you can get caught up in random luggage checks. The plastic wrapping in your luggage will make it hard for you to open your luggage for inspection. Also, if your luggage is overweight, it will be hard to open it to remove things. The same goes when you need to get something from your luggage. 

Alternative to Plastic Wrap

Aside from being tedious, a plastic wrap is one-time only disposable, so it's not great for the environment and your wallet in the long run. 

Investing in luggage gloves, aka reusable fabric wraps or luggage belts instead, will eliminate those problems. 

Duct tape, packing tape, newspaper, and bubble wrap will also work well.

Here's how to use them:

You can use duct tape or packing by just sticking and wrapping them around your luggage. That would work just as fine, but the adhesives from the tapes may leave a sticky residue on the surface of your luggage.

To avoid that, you can wrap your luggage in newspaper or bubble wrap first. Then, you can wrap it again with duct tape or packaging tape. You can even use household cling wrap, just as long as there is a layer between the tape adhesive and your luggage.  

Remember to bring the wrap materials with you in case you need to re-do or fix your wrap and use it for your return trip.

Where Can You Get Your Luggage Wrapped?

If you decide not to do it yourself, you can get plastic wrap service at most major international airports. Many companies offer this service. Some even provide a pickup service if you have more than one item.

Final Words

Vacations are great when you're already at your destination but traveling to get there can be stressful and maybe even dangerous.

Wrapping your luggage is a great idea. Plastic wrap protect your belongings and makes them harder to steal. 

Plastic also protect your luggage from getting scratched or damaged.

Many offer professional suitcase wrapping services, and you can get it conveniently done for you for the right price. Although doing it yourself can be tedious, it can help you save money, especially if you have many pieces of luggage to wrap. 

However, they are not reusable, and you have to make an effort to recycle them.

That said, having an extra layer of protection on your luggage can elevate some of the stress and give you peace of mind.

So, now that you know how to - go ahead and wrap your pieces of luggage.

Good luck and happy travels!

About this Guide

Written By Alex
Last Updated On March 19, 2022
Reading Time 
6 minutes
Guide Views 
348 Views

Author Information

Alex

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