Ask Style: Got Any Tricks to Keep Jewelry Organized While Traveling?

Tue, Dec. 21, 2010 6:00 PM PST by StyleSpy

I’m going to be traveling over the holidays, and my jewelry always gets tangled! Do you have any tips for keeping it knot-free?
—Ashley, via the Ask Style inbox

You’ve got jumbled jewelry? C’mon that’s for amateurs! It’s time to graduate to a new level of packing savvy, and we’ve got Kathi Burns, professional organizer and author of How to Master Your Muck, on board to help us out. The best part? All the items you need can be found around the house!

First, get a hold of some straws and empty toilet paper rolls. “Use the straws to keep dainty chain necklaces or bracelets from kinking by running one end through the straw and attaching the clasp at the other end,” Burns advises. You’ll never have to beg your nieces and nephews to use their “small hands” to work on your tangled chain again.

As for your chunkier necklaces and bracelets, that’s where the toilet paper tubes come in. Just follow the same directions and trim the tube to fit the size of your jewelry.

We know this method may seem a little crazy. Will the airport security think you’re odd for packing a bag full straws and cardboard rolls? It’s likely. Might you be mistaken for a hoarder? Probably. But trust us, a few strange glances are worth the ease this little trick will earn you.

Now we’ve got bracelets and necklaces covered, but what about your earrings? Burns has a tip for that too. “Cut a small square of window screen and attach all your earrings onto the screen,” suggests the organizer extraordinaire. We promise your studs and hoops won’t budge an in inch.

And for all the time and hassle you’ll save? You can thank us later. Anything to make your holiday hustle a little smoother.