26-05-2025
Cabin crew tells Irish holidaymakers to attach 'genius' €1 item to suitcase
With summer holiday season just around the corner, many of us in Ireland are starting to dust off our passports, browse for cheap flights and think about finally taking that long-awaited sun break.
With some airlines clamping down on oversized luggage, travellers are more aware than ever of how and what they pack. Social media is full of people sharing tips on how to make the most of limited space and avoid fees. But there's one part of packing that often gets overlooked - the hygiene of your luggage itself.
After being dragged across footpaths, airport toilets, train platforms and grimy car parks, suitcase wheels often end up on a bed, ready to be packed or unpacked.
It's something most of us never think twice about, but one former flight attendant has gone viral for sharing a clever and surprisingly simple hack to help keep that travel dirt from coming into your home. It'll set you back less than €1 and takes just seconds to do.
Usually used to insulate wires or mark equipment, black electric tape is something many households already have lying around in a drawer or toolbox.
Black electrical tape is easy to find in most supermarkets, hardware shops or online. On Amazon's newly-launched Irish website, this Faithfull FAITAPEPVCBK Black PVC Electrical Tape 19 mm x 20 m is listed as a '#1 Best Seller' and costs just 91 cents. Alternatively, Halfords sell Insulation Tape Black 19mmx20m for €1.
In a short 14-second TikTok clip, user SANA Motherhood demonstrates how simply wrapping tape around your suitcase wheels before travelling can keep them from tracking dirt onto your sheets, carpets or floors.
She captioned the video: "I learned this genius trick from a flight attendant! Tired of your suitcase wheels dragging airport dirt into your home? This one simple thing will change everything after your trip!"
The post has racked up over 10 million views and over 170,000 likes - and sparked a lively debate in the comments.
One person 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 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?"
A former flight attendant joked: "Former flight attendant here, do not do this unless you want to collect hair from around the world."
For those looking for a quick and simple fix - especially if you tend to unpack in hotel rooms or on freshly made beds - it might be worth trying. No tools or expertise are required, and it could even prolong the life of your luggage by giving the wheels a bit of extra protection.
And while you're giving your suitcase a hygiene upgrade, it might also be the perfect time to rethink your luggage altogether - especially with cabin bag rules getting stricter by the day.
One budget-friendly cabin bag that's earning rave reviews for fitting up to four days' worth of clothes has just dropped in price on Amazon. The Xkdoai Cabin Bag, originally priced at an already reasonable €25.01, is now down to just €20.50. With over 200 sales in the past month and a glowing 4.7 out of 5 star rating from hundreds of reviews, this deal is expected to sell out fast.
The bag, which measures a Ryanair compliant 40 x 20 x 25 cm, is available in five different colours, each priced slightly differently, so there's an option to suit every traveller's style. One reviewer shared that this bag was able to hold everything they needed for a four-day holiday in Spain, saying: "Excellent, used it on a 4 day break to Spain and couldn't believe how much I fitted in to it." For more information or to buy, click here.
