Tips for Making Road Trips Easier

From Trish Barber, Reader's Digest

Baby Wipes

Baby wipes can be used for more than just cleaning babies’ bottoms. They’re great for wiping your hands after pumping gas, mopping up small spills in the car, and cooling your sweaty brow after a run. In fact, they make ideal travel companions. So, next time you set off on the road, pack a small stack of wipes in a tightly closed self-sealing sandwich bag and put it in the glove compartment of your car or in your purse or knapsack.

Margarine Tubs

• Bring your home cooking for your kids on the road with a disposable margarine tub that won’t break in your baby bag. These containers double as handy food bowls, and you won’t have to wrap them up and bring them home for cleaning.
• Lightweight, disposable margarine tubs make the perfect pet food containers and double as food and water bowls. And those valuable dog cookies won’t get crushed if you put them in a plastic tub. If your pet is vacationing at a friend’s house, make things a little easier for the caregiver by putting one serving in each container, to be used and discarded as needed.

Paper Bags

Getting ready to leave on a family vacation? Don’t forget to pack a few large shopping bags — the kind with handles — in your luggage. They’re guaranteed to come in handy to bring home the souvenirs you pick up, or perhaps your soiled laundry or beach towels.

Pillowcases

Road trips can be a lot of fun, but a little dirty too. Your youngsters may want to bring their own pillows along, but they’ll stain them with candy, food, and markers. Take their favorite pillows and layer several pillowcases on each. When the outside one gets dirty, remove it for a fresh start.