Packing Hack Alert! TikTok made us try these surprising straw tricks - and they actually work!

The humble straw might be the best packing hack you didn’t know you needed. From keeping jewellery tangle-free to creating DIY toiletry pods, travel-savvy TikTokers have found genius ways to use straws to save space, keep things organised, and even squeeze more into your luggage.

And the best part? These are tried and tested, and they actually work.

Hack 1: Keep jewellery tangle-free with a drinking straw

Tangled necklaces? Never again.

TikToker Christie Moeller shared a hack that she says will save you from spending your whole vacation untangling necklaces - all you need is a straw.

Simply thread your necklaces through drinking straws to keep them from knotting up in your suitcase or moving box. In her video, which has more than 33,000 likes, Christie, who describes herself as “Queen of Style Hacks” says:

“Unclasp your necklace, feed one end through a straw, then bring the ends back together and clasp together. Do this to each necklace you’re bringing, and no tangles!”

This is a total game-changer if you’re travelling on holiday, moving abroad, or simply need a better organisation system at home. Your necklace, bracelets and even fine chains will remain in perfect condition through a long-haul flight in a suitcase or packed in a moving box.

Even better, you can use whatever straw you have at hand - plastic, paper or reusable bamboo or metal straws!

Hack 2: DIY toiletry pods with just a straw and straighteners

If you’re on a backpacking trip and need to save space, or if you’ve got a hand luggage only flight and just need a single pump of your usual product, this hack will teach you how to create single-use travel sachets using a plastic straw.

This really is a genius hack, especially if you’ve experienced the horror of your expensive bottle of moisturiser exploding all over your luggage in the past!

Jacqueline from @travelreimagined_ went viral for her clever packing tip. In her video, she demonstrates how to cut a straw into short lengths, seal one end with hair straighteners, add a small amount of liquid product like shampoo or moisturiser, then seal the other end. When you arrive at your destination, simply snip off the end to use.

Perfect for hand luggage, weekends away, or if you're travelling carry-on only.

Hack 3: A new take on the vacuum-seal straw hack

TikTokers have long been using Ziploc bags and straws to suck the air out of snack packs or for food with a short shelf life. Sidney Raz, a content creator who tests life hacks he’s only learned in his 30s, demonstrates the method in a video with more than 170,000 likes.

But Adam from Send My Bag decided to test how far the humble straw could really go – and how to improve it.

“I saw someone using a straw to vacuum seal a Ziploc bag – great for food, but what if you want to shrink clothes to fit more into your bag on a budget airline flight? I tested it with t-shirts, socks, you name it. It works – but it’s not easy using just a straw!” says Adam.

“Instead, try this: organise outfits into large Ziploc bags, then use the reverse end of a hairdryer or a vacuum cleaner to suck out the air. You can fit way more into your suitcase, and it’s perfect for students moving abroad or anyone trying to avoid airline baggage fees (naming no names, but you know who you are).”

Whether you're a savvy solo traveller, a student packing for uni overseas, or just trying to avoid paying for extra luggage (again!), these TikTok straw hacks are worth a go. And if you're sending luggage ahead or moving abroad, these hacks are tried, tested and travel-approved.