Tips for Storing Your Travel Gear at Home

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using them, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps to keep this site running – thank you!

After you come home from your trip, you’ll want to unpack fully, but what do you do with your backpack or suitcase? More importantly, what about the extra pieces of travel gear, the little things you don’t use in everyday life?

If you don’t have a system for storing travel gear at home, it’s time to make one. Having everything neat, clean and tidy can help to prolong the life of your gear and just help you to pack faster and smarter every time you hit the road.

No more rummaging through drawers and closets trying to remember where your passport was placed (and having a minor freak out in the process).

Here are some ideas to get you started:

How to Store Your Luggage

As soon as you get home, clean your bag with a wet washcloth or something similar to take off dirt and grime from the baggage carousel and sidewalks.

I have a storage trunk from Walmart that holds my backpacks and duffels between trips. It has wheels, which helps when I move houses, or just reorganize at home.

Living in a very small space? Try nesting your luggage and bags matryoshka-style to save on space.

Try to avoid damp places, but if you do keep a bag in your basement, I recommend putting it in a trash bag to keep it clean and dry between uses.

Make sure that you also toss in some desiccant gel with your bags (like these on Amazon). This ensures that your bag remains moisture free and will not smell musty when you need to use it again.

How to Store Travel Specific Clothes

If you have clothes that you use specifically only for traveling, set these aside and store them in packing cubes. This way, you can just toss them in your luggage when you need to pack.

Choose packing cubes that have a clear or mesh front, so you can easily see what’s inside. You can also label the cubes so you know at a glance what’s inside.

This is a great system to have if you live in a place that doesn’t have much climate variety throughout the year, and have no need for bulky parkas and sweaters taking up precious real estate inside your closet.

If you have a gigantic suitcase that you’re not using often (but can’t toss it out), you might also want to consider putting that luggage to use and storing your bulky travel wear inside.

• Read similar: Travel Gear You Can Use Around the House

Storing Assorted, Small Travel Items

There are dozens of items I only use on trips, like tote bags, my luggage scale and packing cubes, so I’ve created a plastic Rubbermaid container just for these random items. 

You can also label your containers (use a portable label maker like this one on Amazon) so you can easily know what’s inside without having to root into each one trying to find a specific item.

I also keep a toiletries bag full of travel-sized items at all times so I can throw it in my bag at a moment’s notice.

This method keeps me from running around like a crazy person when preparing for a trip because everything has a specific home.

Storing Important Items & Documents

Items like your passport shouldn’t be stored just anywhere. Get a fireproof lockbox (like this one on Amazon) for your essential documents, receipts for insured electronics and any leftover foreign currency. 

It’s important to keep these items safe in case of an emergency.

You can also separate your foreign currency into individual envelopes or zip lock bags. Reusable clear pouches (like these on Amazon) work perfectly for this task!

This way, you can easily get the currencies you need when you’re in a rush for that next big trip.

How do you store and organize your travel gear at home? We’re always on the lookout for new hacks to make our lives easier on the road and at home. Share your tips in the comments below!