Save Space When Packing Toiletries With This Clever Chapstick Hack

Packing is already a challenge in and of itself, and if you add toiletries to the equation, expect it to be a million times trickier. As we all know, the TSA has a strict 3-1-1 liquid rule that prohibits travelers from bringing liquids, gels, aerosols, and creams of more than 100 milliliters in their carry-on bag, with the agency requiring everyone to transfer them into smaller containers of 3.4 ounces or less instead, and then placing them inside a single clear bag. This seems simple enough, no? Think again. Just imagine the hassle of having to fit multiple containers of varying sizes in your carry-on, all while attempting to fit all your essential items together. And it's not like you can have miniature sizes of all your toiletries, either, especially when items like deodorant mostly come in full-size variants.

But as with all things related to packing, there is a lesser-known workaround you can do to minimize the room that stocky items like deodorant consume in your bag. Instead of packing the entire stick, which can be one of the bulkiest items in a toiletry kit, consider transferring a portion of it into an empty lip balm tube. It's not so different from funneling liquids into tiny bottles — it simply requires gently heating the deodorant to transfer it.

If your deodorant stick happens to take up more space than you'd like in your toiletry bag, TikTok user @squirrelmama29 has a creative solution. She suggests repurposing an empty lip balm tube you have lying around as a compact container for your deodorant. "You can take those things apart and you can melt your deodorant down and make them in a tiny container because sometimes even the travel ones are too big," she explained.

To do this, start by slicing off a small portion of your solid deodorant. Place the shavings in a microwave-safe container for easy melting, and then heat them in the microwave for a few seconds until they transform into liquid form. Carefully pour the molten deodorant into the empty lip balm tube, and allow it to cool and solidify once more. Before transferring, however, it's important to ensure that the lip balm tube is completely clean to maintain hygiene and prevent any cross-contamination with residual substances. You also want to avoid filling the tube all the way, lest you risk spilling and wasting precious product.

The versatility of empty lip balm tubes extends far beyond just storing deodorant, of course. Technically, anything that can be melted down and then solidified again, like soap or solid lotions, works with this clever trick.

But why stop at toiletries? The tubes can also house tiny essentials, including hair ties, bobby pins, matches, toothpicks, and paper clips. If you're going camping and wish to whip up meals on-site, ingredients like salt, sugar, and herbs, are perfect for storing in these tubes, too. Even a few dollar bills and jewelry can work, especially when you're traveling and would like to hide your valuables from the prying eyes of thieves. In that case, use the tubes as secret compartments.

If you choose to store non-toiletry items in lip balm tubes, however, just make sure that you remove the twisting mechanism to maximize space. Pliers and scissors can usually do the trick. But we all know that the real challenge lies in preventing the loss of the tube itself. It's no secret that lip balms are notorious for disappearing no matter how careful you are with them, so if you are to store valuables inside them, just be sure that they are in a safe location.