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LIQUIDS & tsa

The rule is three small bottles of liquid in one see-through bag. What do you advise if I want to carry on my bag and I have, in addition to shampoo, conditioner, lotion, some face cleanser, and face cream?
What about laundry liquid? I know it is sold in little individual packages-- does that count or not for liquid?

TSA Guidelines:
3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring.

Posted by
9099 posts

If you can't fit all the stuff you list into that ziplock bag, your only other choice is to check your bag, or purchase those items in Europe after you arrive.

Posted by
195 posts

Laurel, you don't have to limit it to 3 -3 oz bottles. You can take as many 3 oz bottles that you can fit into the one quart bag. Even the packets of liquid detergents count and must be in the bag. If you get solid soap then you can put that in your carry on.

Posted by
161 posts

Vanessa,

Do you mean three containers of liquid in one plastic bag. And ANOTHER three containers in another bag. Etc? It's not limited to three, period?

laurel

Posted by
2393 posts

The 3-1-1 stands for 3 oz, 1 bag, 1 person. All liquids must be in ONE qt size zip bag per person - regardless of the # of bottles you have. I can get 7 or 8 in 1 bag plus some smaller containers of stuff. If you can fit 12 in one bag you can take 12.

Hope that makes sense

Posted by
1446 posts

From my local camping store, I bought a variety of 3 oz, 2 oz and 1 oz nalgene bottles. Personally, I only keep shampoo and sunscreen in the 3 oz bottles, the rest fits in the smaller bottles. I can put quite a bit in my one bag - you definitely are NOT limited to just 3 bottles. However, your bag must be able to close properly.

For the TSA, * any * liquid is a liquid. Creams and gels are considered to be liquids as well. Sometimes a 'solid' can be considered a liquid too (such as jam). If in doubt, you are best to put it in your checked bag.

Posted by
11613 posts

I take twenty packets of woolite, a travel-size toothpaste, a small bottle of perfume, and a small tube of sunscreen in 1 quart-size ziploc baggie. There's room for even more than that. Never had a problem.

Posted by
17636 posts

For the laundry soap look for the tiny individual packets of powder soap. That way no liquid. We dont carry a lot because we stay in apartments and part of the fun is the neighborhood grocery.

Posted by
4138 posts

During a discussion between a TSA agent and a passenger who insisted that her body lotion was not a liquid I learned that at least in Seattle, if it makes a puddle when it is outside the container, it's a liquid. I have had one TSA agent in one airport tell me that I could carry my liquid eye drops in with my meds. In the same airport, just a little farther along in line, a different one told me that the bottle had to go in my 3-1-1 bag.

I don't know where you are going or how long you will be gone, but everything you list can likely be bought in the first town you visit, and probably the same brands, too. We think it's fun to do that. I did an experiment with some of the things I normally use and used only the small sizes of them for a month here at home. I was amazed at how long they lasted, so you may have more time than you think to get them in Europe.

I don't take a special face cleanser. I just use what the lodging has or the body wash we buy when we get there. I do take face wipes. They don't count as liquid. The face lotion I use regularly is already in a bottle that is 2.5 oz. The foundation that I take (sometimes) is 1.7 oz. Those are normal sizes, not special travel ones. One of us does take a small toothpaste. We get a slightly bigger one when it runs out. My major problem is with body lotion. I use it in very large quantities, so I have to buy it pretty quickly after we arrive. We also usually like the body wash products we find in Europe, so we buy that right away, too. In fact, at home we never use any US body wash products because we are so spoiled by the European ones.

We don't take laundry liquid. We take Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets. Some reviewers say they leave stains on their clothes, but we have never experienced that. I've also read that they have been discontinued, but Amazon still has them. I cut them in half for hand washing or the small European washers and just put more in if we encounter a larger washer. I put enough for our month-long trips in a Ziploc plastic bag. They take up little room and weigh almost nothing. Every laundry facility we have used has had some kind of detergent to buy or has included it in the price of washing if you don't want to carry anything with you or buy it at a store.

Sometimes we have stuff left over at the end of our trip. We just put that in the garbage at our last lodging because we always carry-on except when flying within Europe where we inevitably have to check our bags. Leaving some of those products behind is sad because we do often like them better than anything we can buy here in the US.

Posted by
2081 posts

Laurel,

I dont carry liquids or such stuff with me anymore. I will buy them once i get there. its saves me the hassle of what you are experiencing and wanting to do.

happy trails.

Posted by
1976 posts

The rule of thumb I go by (I may have seen it on this forum) to define a liquid is this: if it spills, squeezes, or sprays, it is a liquid.

I manage to fit all of my liquids, including a travel-size bottle of shave gel, into a 1-quart bag: shampoo, conditioner, face wash, shave gel, face lotion, hand sanitizer, and a couple of other items. I'd rather not have to spend time buying any of these things on my vacation.

Once I'm through security, I put the 1-quart bag into a bigger ziploc bag in case of leakage during pressure changes on the flight.

Posted by
10178 posts

"I'd rather not have to spend time buying any of these things on my vacation."

.

I'm with you Sarah. If I have to replenish something during my trip I do. But the last thing I want to do as soon as I arrive is track down a store or multiple stores to buy basic toiletries. And I never understood those that advocate that to save space in your luggage you should wait and purchase things there. Aren't those things going to wind up in your luggage anyway? How much room does it really save then? At home I can buy travel sized items or decant things into smaller containers. While traveling in Europe, how easy is it to find small sizes of toiletries?

Posted by
2393 posts

The only thing I do buy when we land is deodorant - I cant stand the stick type and it is impossible to find the very small cans. I buy use and leave behind. Otherwise I can fit shampoo, conditioner, body wash, baby oil, air freshener (small cans in the auto aisle), tabasco (I know - but I always carry one in my purse!), laundry soap, a couple small sanitizer gels - everything we need.

Posted by
32517 posts

You can get Tabasco here now, in various sizes, and 3 or 4 varieties including green, red, smoked and something else I can't remember. And many many more brands of hot sauce.

Posted by
2393 posts

Yes - Tabasco & other hot sauces are more common a lot of places now. I started carrying a bottle with me at least 15 years ago - I like it on so many things from eggs to beer - it's just easier to pull my own out than have to ask for it and wait. I still run into places that do not have it - even in the US.

Posted by
867 posts

My almond butter was considered liquid. A very sad throwaway.

I always have at least three quart-sized plastic bags filled with 3oz liquid bottles (maybe around 10-12 total), and have never had an issue. The guideline you have quoted above surprises me.

Posted by
792 posts

Laurel-hit your local Walgreens and look through their travel size bottles. Often, 3 oz is way more than you need for a lot of toiletries (ie face wash). If you can find bottles smaller than 3 oz, you can maximize the quart you are allowed. A great trick- go to a make-up counter and ask for some sample size containers. You can rinse them out and put your own stuff in. They are WAY smaller than 3 oz and a perfect size for things you use in small amounts- like face wash, face lotion, liquid foundation, etc. Check if your hotel provides shampoo and conditioner and then you don't have to worry about it.

My toiletry bag usually looks like this
-sample size amount of face wash
-sample size amount of face lotion
-mascara
-tinted moisturizer (tube is 2.4 oz)
-small tube of hydrocortisone cream (I have sensitive skin)
-special travel container for perfume- I bought it at Ulta-it is very small, cost $9.00, and you can transfer your own perfume to it. And it is reusable.
-3 oz bottle of body moisturizer
-travel toothpaste

And I usually have room left over. I rely on hotel shampoo/conditioner. I bring bar soap. I use solid deodorant. The rest of my make-up is powder or solid based (like lipstick and chapstick).

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Posted by
4138 posts

Maryam. I'm amazed that your haven't had more than the almond butter confiscated. Here's the link to the TSA rules which includes the recent update: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/3-1-1-carry-ons. Did you pull all those quart bags out and put them in the screening bin like is required? This is a rule for what's in your carry-on luggage, not what is checked.

Posted by
867 posts

Yup, I pull them out and put in the bin. One bag usually holds my shampoo, conditioner, and face lotion. The other my body lotion,toothpaste, and facial wash. The last one is usually laundry detergent, deodorant, and foundation (and the rest of the makeup, which is mascara, blush, powder, and lip gloss). Not once have I had an issue. They are all under 3oz. Maybe I am putting them in different bins, like one with my coat, the other with my carry on bag, and the other with my shoe, so they think it's three different people!? And yes, I almost always carry on, so this would be a carry on situation and not a checked bag.

Posted by
161 posts

The reason I am so concerned about taking enough products is that I am chemically sensitive, allergic to scented products, so need to take with me particular ones. All the information above is extremely helpful! Such experience!
laurel

Posted by
2393 posts

I always have at least three quart-sized plastic bags filled with 3oz liquid bottles (maybe around 10-12 total), and have never had an issue. YET
.

Is probably more like it - just be prepared to make sure it all fits in one bag or be OK with tossing some it. Eventually you will come across an agent that notices you have 3.

Posted by
792 posts

I understand the sensitive skin issue. I have the same problem. I do fine with the Dove sensitive skin bar soap and I use unscented lotion (Vaseline or Jergens) daily in fairly large amounts. If I am on a longer trip, I know I will need to buy more lotion. But the travel size holds me over for close to a week so that I buy it when it's convenient. I have seen US brands of unscented lotion all over Europe.

Posted by
4138 posts

Taking more than one 3-1-1 bag through security by putting bags in different screening bins, sounds like a deliberate attempt to carry more liquids on the plane than are allowed. Losing some of those liquids might be the lowest of the possible TSA responses. Frankly, I'd expect something a little more dramatic.

Posted by
867 posts

You are welcome to read more into it than you'd like (I think it's speaks more of the reader's thinking process rather than mine), but I am being truthful in that it is ignorance (and a lack of being "caught"). I have my products separated into different bags to ease grabbing what I need: one bag for bathing, one for a quick hop to the bathroom on the plane to freshen up, etc. There really is nothing "deliberate" about it, and I'm not really sure what the meaning behind the last sentence is besides just sounding spiteful!

Posted by
4138 posts

Sorry. I didn't mean to sound spiteful. Having had one TSA agent tell me one thing, then another tell me another on multiple occasions, and having one question why I was carrying my passport through the scanner and flip through it to make sure I wasn't hiding anything in it, it occurred to me that they could interpret your method for carrying extra liquids through security in separate bins as highly suspicious. But it sounds like now you know what the law is, so that's a good thing.

Posted by
4535 posts

Not that I encourage this, but I never put my liquids in the required plastic bag. Sometimes I do put my toiletry bag in the bin, and sometimes just leave it in my luggage. Technically I am in violation and yes it could be tossed, but no one has ever said a peep either.

The point being that a few here have over-reacted to the concept that someone violates the TSA rules on liquids. You WON'T be hauled off to jail. At worst your almond butter ends up in the trash...

Posted by
103 posts

Medications are a big exception to the 3-1-1 rule. You can take as many as you need and are not limited to 3.4 ounces. You just need to have each one in the container it came in with the prescription label attached, and you need to inform the TSA agent that you have them. No one has ever wanted to see my Insulin vials, though I have been thanked for letting them know.

On my last domestic flight, I was concentrating so much on transferring everything from my pockets to my carry-on bag, declaring my Insulin vials, and juggling and keeping all of my things in sight in several screening bins (carry-on bag, CPAP bag, CPAP removed from the bag, shoes, heavy winter coat, etc) that I forgot to take my 3-1-1 bag out of my carry-on and put it separately in one of the bins. No one caught it.

Posted by
9110 posts

There's no need to 'declare' anything to the TSA They snoop, you stand there. If they have a question, they'll ask. It's not as though they don't see a zillion cpap machines a day.

It's never occurred to me to not tote my passport and boarding pass through the body scanner. It's up there in your crossed hands for everybody to see - - and it's the only think that you don't want to loose in the junk collection after the tub comes through.

And, it's a disservice to the people behind you if you're sorting crap and emptying pockets at the conveyer - - everything should be stashed or ready to pull out in one grab while you're kicking off your shoes. Same for the other end, grab your junk and get the heck out of the way - - reconbobulate somewhere else. Keep the line moving.

Two other things that make life easier:

  1. Use a mesh ditty bag instead of the plastic sack. It lasts forever and doesn't shred itself halfway through a trip. Half of the time I forget to display it - - I'm sure the scanner people can hive out what a can of shaving cream and a tube of toothpaste look like.
  2. Leatherman makes a bladeless multi-tool. If you snap it to the exterior of your carry-on, they'll either recognize it or be able to examine it without having to dig to see what you have.
Posted by
103 posts

Ed -- I "declare" my Insulin (along with my lancets and syringes) because I read somewhere on the TSA web site that I'm supposed to. I remove my CPAP from its carrying case and put it in a separate bin because the TSA people at DTW always tell me to. It makes for a number of bins to manage and it takes a couple of minutes to do it all.

I refuse to apologize for slowing things down a little bit by being elderly with minor balance issues and having medical conditions that require me to travel with liquid meds, syringes, and a CPAP along with everything else "normal" travelers have to take through security (like shoes and heavy winter coats), display them in various bins the way the TSA people at DTW tell me I should, accommodate the TSA people at other airports like FLL and JAX on my return trip who always inexplicably want it done differently, declare what the web site tells me to declare, pull out my 3-1-1 bag and put it in one of the bins, always know where my boarding pass and passport are, stand for a long time in the screening "booth" because they always seem to have to make me wait, keep an eye on everything so that it doesn't walk away as the conveyor takes it farther and farther away from me while I'm trapped in the booth, and finally emerge to gather it all up and stumble, shoeless and beltless, with it to someplace where I can sit down, put my belt and shoes back on, and put everything back together again so that I can go find my gate.

No one in line behind me ever says anything, and the TSA people always smile at me and say "thank you," so I must be doing something right. I'm sorry if it inconveniences the people behind me, but we're all coping with the post 9/11 security regime as best we can.

Posted by
2393 posts

At 75 you get to leave your shoes on!!!

Last trip to Mexico we were also TSA pre-check so shoes on there too!

Do what makes you comfortable and be prepared for the consequences if something is questioned and confiscated - the biggest problem with that is if you get a TSA agent who is having a particularly BAD day they just may "detain" you long enough to miss your flight just because they can.

The whole thing is a dog & pony show anyway - set up to give folks a sense of security - however false or fleeting.

I flew home from the UK about a week after 9/11 - didn't even think about my cuticle nippers - they were confiscated - Really? I'm gonna nip someone into submission?

Posted by
9110 posts

Not aimed at you, Marc, but at the laggards who don't think ahead and slow the line down to a crawl. And, you make a valid point, there's no standardization among airports.

Posted by
4535 posts

The whole thing is a dog & pony show anyway - set up to give folks a sense of security - however false or fleeting.
I flew home from the UK about a week after 9/11 - didn't even think about my cuticle nippers - they were confiscated - Really? I'm gonna nip someone into submission?

I generally agree with your first statement. But it's important to remember that while security will never stop 100% of terrorists, it does inhibit or stop a significant portion. That's a lot of lives saved.

And before 9/11, who would have ever imagined that a few $5.00 utility knives could crash 4 airplanes, destroy two of the world's tallest skyscrapers, heavily damage the US Pentagon, shut down US aviation for days and kill over 3,000 people.

Posted by
2597 posts

If it fits in the ziplock and is 3.4 oz or less, you're fine. The only things I put in there are things that would be a pain to replace or that I might use while en route; foundation, eye drops, saline, toothpaste, deodorant, conditioner and the gel I need to keep my hair in order. I'm more concerned about getting my knitting project past them intact than anything else, really.

Posted by
127 posts

Christa,
Have you ever carried knitting projects on before? I was hoping to take my crochet project when I travel this summer with out any hassle.

Posted by
68 posts

I think that TSA usually is not super strict about the liquids (but this probably depends on where you live) I know of other people that use the more than one ziploc bag method. I use a clear dopp kit (http://www.amazon.com/Vinyl-Clear-Travel-Cosmetic-Toiletry/dp/B001619ZFI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397179730&sr=8-1&keywords=clear+dop+kit) that is a little bit bigger than a quart bag and have not had a problem flying. I use it to carry all of my toiletries, meds, and jewlery. For that matter I got pulled out for a security check in O'Hare (multiple bars of chocolate in the bottom of my bag looked suspicious on the scanner) and they did not say anything about it. The bag is pretty flimsy (I will be on my second one this year) but works well to keep organized and not have to repack once you get through security. Otherwise I would recomend a freezer bag since they are sturdier. You can fit a lot in one bag if you cram things in.
As far as laundry are you using a machine or washing in the sink? I use a bar of whatever soap I take with me to wash in the sink and it works fine for me. Do not take the Tide packs unless you can put them somewhere crush proof, they will burst and make a mess. I also use a shampoo bar (I buy mine on etsy since I do not like the ones from Lush) which saves carrying liquids. You can always try them at home to see how they work.
Good luck packing

Posted by
867 posts

I have been busy trying to fix my ignorant ways. I have upgraded to a shampoo/conditioner bar from Lush, as well as to a bar for my laundering needs, and have now placed all my liquids in a mesh bag (good suggestion) that fits the quart size criteria. I have also purchased a new toiletry bag that fits all my non-liquid stuff as well as the aforementioned mesh bag, so I guess I just grab the same bag for everything.

Edit:Thank you to the person below for catching my error. It is fixed (I did mean a one quart bag!).

This Helpline is helpful!

Posted by
2393 posts

Maryam - you are getting closer but it is ONE 1 quart bag per person

Posted by
4138 posts

This discussion has ranged far and wide from the original OP. However, the TSA still says the same thing. Below is a cut and paste from their website, and I'm repeating the link here: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/3-1-1-carry-ons because it is so far up in the responses.

3-1-1 for Carry-ons

When processing through a screening checkpoint, each traveler is allowed one bag in order to limit the total volume of liquids, aerosols and gels. Consolidating products into one bag and X-raying them separately from the carry-on bag enables security officers to quickly clear all items.

3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 ounce (100ml) container size is a security measure.

Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.

3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, consider putting your liquids in checked luggage.

Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint. Officers may need to open these items to conduct additional screening.

Posted by
184 posts

The OP inquired about laundry liquid. I have had excellent results with Forever New a powdered laundry soap for lingerie, silks, etc. that you can purchase in the lingerie department of a large department store. It is perfect for travel. That said, I have used shampoo to launder items in a hotel sink and it works as well. If you plan on staying in nice hotels or B&B's you can expect the same amenities as you would in the US, e.g., shampoo, conditioner, lotion, so I never take much and have all that I need.

I have never counted the number of my bottles in my bag and I am sure I have more than 3 but they are all less than 3.4 ounce and never had a problem. It is my understanding that you can have as many legal bottles as you want as long as they fit in the bag.

Posted by
1010 posts

We always take "Forever New" powdered laundry soap. You can buy it at Amazon, or at Macy's Dept. store, in the lingerie dept. I regularly use it at home for all our delicate clothes. It is handy to put in your luggage. I use it for all our clothes on trips. It can be used for any fabric or color. You can use warm or cold water. It is convenient to use in sinks or in the bath tubs at hotels. I always take a rubber drain stopper. Sometimes the hotels don't have good seals on their sinks or bath tubs. I also take foldable sponge hangars, that I bought at a travel store. The soap makes limited foam, so it is easy to rinse the clothes. Have a great trip!