Dragging a suitcase across various different countries and airports can lead to a dirty build-up on the wheels, but one ex-cabin crew member thinks they’ve found the solution
There’s nothing more satisfying than opening up an empty case on your bed and starting to fill it with holiday clothes each summer.
But before you haul your wheelie case out of the loft, have you stopped to think how dirty the wheels are? This is especially important if you still own luggage that has been to various countries with you and is looking a little worse for wear.
One flight attendant believes she has found the answer to the issue, with a simple, low-cost, hack to stop you from bringing dirt from the airport and overseas back into your home. It costs under £5 and comes in a roll – that’s right, it’s black electric tape.
It’s often used to insulate electrical wires in homes, along with marking and protecting them. So there’s a chance if you are in the trade, or not, that you may have a roll of this handy stuff in a drawer.
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Shared by TikTok user SANA Motherhood, the 14-second video shows her putting black tape around the wheel. She captioned: “Tired of your suitcase wheels dragging airport dirt into your home? This one simple thing will change everything after your trip.”
Accumulating more than 9.6 million views and 172.4k likes, the comment section was flooded with reactions from other users who had never thought such a simple hack would be so useful, especially when we tend to put suitcases on top of the bed. However, others didn’t see the point of it.
One said: “Smart hack for luggage,” with a second one explaining: “For those who don’t know, it helps protect your bag tyres from puncture, hence saving you the cost of replacing new bag tires, including wheel alignment every now and then.”
A third one commented: “Is it not easier to give the wheels a quick disinfecting wipe than to have to put tape on and then peel the dirty tape off with your fingers?”
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A former flight attendant joked: “Former flight attendant here, do not do this unless you want to collect hair from around the world.”
By applying this simple hack, travellers can rest assured that the wheels of their suitcase remain clean after every trip and ready for the next holiday. Even better, the travel journey will become stress-free without the inconvenience of hearing the squeaky noise of the worn-out wheels.
Additionally, this hack is very simple, and it doesn’t require any special tools or expertise. It’s ideal for last-minute travellers who want to protect their luggage, also adding an extra layer of protection against wheel damage, extending the usage of your suitcase for longer. You can find black electrical tape in any UK supermarket, Amazon, or specialised store selling trade tools.