I’m a flight attendant and these are the three surprising things you should buy from the hardware store for your next holiday

Before heading to the airport for your next vacation, consider stopping at a hardware store, suggests this flight attendant.

Cicia TikToker who works as a flight attendant for a “major airline,” make a video revealing three surprisingly useful items you can buy at any DIY store for your travels.

In the images, which have accumulated so far 596,000 views, the Florida native, 51, demonstrates how to use everyday objects — rubber bands, shoe covers and carabiners, which are the metal loops often used by climbers.

Shoe covers are convenient to use going through airport security, Cici, who goes by TikTok ‘Chere In The Sky’, reveals.

Placing a pair of blue plastic shoe covers over her feet, she explains: “When you go through TSA (Transportation Security Administration), ISimply take off your shoes, put them on, and pass the germ-free security scanner.

Shoe covers can be used to “pass through the security scanner germ-free” during airport security, says Cici

The savvy traveler, who has 374,200 followers on TikTok, also suggests using shoe covers “to protect your clothes” in your suitcase.

They can also be placed “on your feet in your hotel room if you’re worried about germs,” ​​she adds.

If you don’t have time to pick up shoe covers, shower caps work too, Cici reveals, saying, “That’s what I do, I take all the shower caps are taken out of the rooms and I use them too.

Bungee cords, meanwhile, can be threaded through the handle of your suitcase to secure all your bags and travel items in one place, reveals Cici.

“Tie your pillow to your luggage,” she suggests.

“If your handle breaks for some reason, tie it here and drag it,” she says, threading the cord through a smaller suitcase handle and holding it at both ends to pull it.

But those attempting this hack should use caution, as Cici warns that bungee cords commonly cause eye injuries.

Turning her attention to carabiners, Cici notes that these devices come in handy once aboard the plane.

She says: “Use them to attach your water bottle to your bag so it doesn’t fall on people’s heads when you put it in the overhead compartment. It happened often.

Bungee cords can be threaded through your suitcase handle to secure all your bags and travel items in one place

Cici recommends travelers use carabiners to attach their water bottles to their bags so “they don’t fall on people’s heads when they put them in the overhead compartment.”

Many viewers thanked the cabin crew member for her message and appreciated her advice.

‘Alissa’ wrote: ‘Shoe covers… so clever. It always freaks me out.

Globetrotter “shenanigans305” said: “I’ve been flying twice a week for work and all over Europe and now I’m learning these tips from you. I travel for pleasure now and will use them.

A colleague from the airline “Leisure Lifestyle” said: “I am a flight attendant and I learned something here.”

Regarding Cici’s advice on carabiners, user ‘Bort’ added: “I’ll never forget my bottle falling and hitting some poor guy in the head. I definitely have a bottle carabiner whenever I travel now.

Others comment the video suggested other DIY items to take on vacation.

User “Jefiner” suggested taking a “rubber door stopper for the hotel room,” while “Pinky” commented: “Put tea lights in your luggage to put in the bathroom hotel bath. This way you don’t need to turn on the bright light (when using the bathroom at night).

And “Melanie” said: “I always carry two pairs of socks through TSA so I can remove the outer pair afterwards.”

In another recent TikTok video, Cici revealed why passengers should never fly on the day of an important event like a wedding or birthday.

“I can’t tell you how many people on my flights have missed important engagements due to delays and it’s just not worth it.” Always fly the day before,” she says in the clip, which has been viewed 79,700 times.

To see more of Cici’s videos, visit her Tic Tac or her Instagram profile.