Problem: Article: If you're not leaving for a few weeks or even months, find a list of average highs and lows for the time of year that you're going to a particular place. Search for averages on Wikipedia; the site lists average temperatures in the "Climate" section on most pages for countries, states, and provinces. You might also Google the weather in a given city. For example, you can search "average temperature in Chicago in April" to get results that will be helpful for choosing what to pack. Check the specific forecast for each of the seven days that you'll be gone. Many websites, like weather.com or AccuWeather, provide forecasts for anywhere in the world. Even though weather predictions are not always accurate, this is a good way to get a sense of what to expect. Reach out. If you are still unsure about what kind of weather to expect and thus what kind of clothing to pack, reach out to a friend, family member, or colleague who has visited your destination for pointers. Additionally, many major cities have travel or tourism bureaus. Call or email one of these agencies to speak directly with a local and get their advice and pointers on what to expect and what kind of clothing to pack. If you can, wash your clothes during your trip (even if it's just a quick sink-wash and hanging the clothes out to dry) so that you have to pack even fewer items. If you won't have access to laundry while you're gone, you should plan to bring a change of clothes for each day of the week. Some hotels, for example, will provide complimentary toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, and soap. Others will even provide a toothbrush and toothpaste. If so, that is at least a couple of items less that you have to worry about packing in your suitcase! Depending on your destination of choice, you may have to pack certain precautionary items or align your packing with the cultural sensitivities and traditions of your destination. Learn whether certain diseases are common in your destination. Consider, for example, malaria. If your destination has malaria-transmitting mosquitoes, you are at a significant risk of getting the disease, so take the necessary precautions. These may range from insect repellent to malaria prevention medicines. You can learn more about malaria and whether it is a concern in your destination by visiting the CDC website. This is especially useful if you are traveling abroad. Take into account security considerations, such as whether it is generally safe for somebody of your nationality to travel to your destination of choice at this time. If you currently live in the U.S., the Department of State website is the go-to site for this information. Consider whether there will be any important local holidays while you are there. Knowing this ahead of time will allow you to better prepare and not be taken by surprise should there be any major closures, crowds, or events. If you are traveling abroad, it is important to know how to communicate basic information. For this, you can use an app like Duolingo or free online materials.
Summary: Check weather patterns in your destination city. Ask your accommodation(s) about laundry facilities. Find out whether your accommodation(s) will provide you with toiletries. Find out if there are any regional considerations you should take into account. Research the political, social, and cultural climate of your destination. Learn a few key words or phrases in the local language.

Problem: Article: You'll be able to tell early in your packing if you need a different sized bag, or if you need to remove some clothes from what you planned on bringing. Rolled clothes and shoes should go on the bottom. Place the folded items on top of the rolled items. Alternate hem-lines to avoid uneven packing. Socks, jewelry, and accessories are perfect items to fill spots between clothes. Stuff the cups of your bra with rolled up socks to help them keep shape. Belts can easily line the perimeter of your bag. Stuff your shoes with small items to save space. Stick your underwear and socks in the sneakers, then put the shoes in a plastic bag, so that the rest of the luggage doesn't get dirty. Stick your pillow in a compression bag. Squeeze the air out of the compression bag, then pack that between the two ridges in the middle. Pack your solid toiletries in the front pouch, then stuff your quart-size bag of liquids into the little remaining space in your bag. It is good if you have a little extra space, it is good for souvenirs, and if you are bringing a pet, you can put their food in. Just in case anything happens to your suitcase, keep all your expensive and important things in your purse.
Summary: Pack the large items first. Fill the nooks and crannies with smaller items. Have the important things on you.

Problem: Article: These days, many restaurants have moved away from using MSG in their cooking. It is still a good idea to ask and to be adamant that MSG is not used in the food prepared for you. If you want to eat out but avoid MSG, known which foods to avoid. Common foods that contain MSG include vegetable broths, breads, dressings, soy products, sweeteners, and flavors. Most fast food restaurants, such as McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Chick-fil-A all put MSG in their food. If you are curious about which particular items have MSG, then go to the restaurant's website and look at the ingredients list.
Summary: Tell servers you want your food without MSG. Avoid certain foods when eating out. Watch out for fast food.

Problem: Article: While oven cleaner can be effective in getting rid of scorch marks, it should be used as a last resort because it is extremely caustic and may discolor the pan. You should never use it on a pan with a non-stick or other protective coating, though, because it will strip off the coating and ruin the pan. Because oven cleaner has the potential to damage cookware, you should only use it if you've tried other methods of cleaning your scorched pan and they've failed. If you're planning to toss the pan anyway, it's a worth a try to use the oven cleaner. Oven cleaner contains caustic chemicals that give off very strong fumes, so it's important to take safety precautions before you use it. Cover your hands with a pair of rubber gloves to keep your skin safe from the chemicals. You should also make sure that your kitchen is well-ventilated before spraying the oven cleaner, so open a window or two if possible. If you're especially sensitive to fumes, you may want to wear a dust mask over your nose and mouth when you're using the oven cleaner. Be sure to read all of the safety warnings on the oven cleaner's packaging so you're aware of any other safety precautions that you should take. Once you're prepared to work with the oven cleaner, spray it over the scorched areas of the pan. Because the cleaner is so caustic, you don't want to use any more than is necessary so cover the bottom of the pan with a light layer. You can use a brush to ensure that it's spread over the entire pan. While spray oven cleaners formulas are usually the most common, you can also find cream and foam formulas that may work better when you're cleaning a scorched pan. In order for the oven cleaner to fully penetrate the scorched areas and loosen the film and debris, you need to let it sit on the pan for at least a half hour. Because of the fumes, it's best to place the pan outside while the cleaner on it. Cover the pan with a lid, and set it on a table or ledge outside your home. If you don't have any area outside that you can set the pan, open a window and set it on the window ledge. After the cleaner has sat on the pan for approximately a half hour, use a scrub brush or sponge to scour the pan. The scorched film and debris should lift right off. Once you've cleaned the pan completely, make sure to rinse it extremely well to ensure that there's no residue from the oven cleaner left on the surface. If you're concerned about oven cleaner residue being left behind on the pan, wipe it down with a dry towel after you've rinsed it initially to see if anything comes off on the towel. You should definitely rinse it again if you notice any film, though you may want to rinse it again even if the pan is clean to be safe.
Summary:
Make sure your pan isn't non-stick. Put on gloves and open a window. Apply oven cleaner to bottom of the pan. Cover and set outside. Scrub the pan clean and rinse well.