Storing and Traveling With Glo Pals: Tips for On-the-Go Play

Quick answer

Before you pack Glo Pals, dry each Light-Up Cube and character completely, then store them in a small breathable pouch or the original packaging. For travel, keep cubes separate from heavy toiletries, bring a few spares, and test one cube in water before relying on it for a hotel bath. Never seal damp cubes in a plastic bag.

Glo Pals are made for water, but that does not mean they are indestructible on the road. A little prep before you leave home keeps the glow working in hotel tubs, grandma's bathroom, and campsite water tables. The same habits that protect them at home matter even more when they are bouncing around in a suitcase.

This guide walks through a simple routine: dry, store, pack, use, and reset. Each step includes the mistake that causes most problems, so you can avoid a soggy cube or a dead light when your child is ready to play.

Why travel is harder on light-up toys

At home, Glo Pals usually stay near the tub and air-dry on a ledge. In a suitcase or backpack, they get compressed, shaken, and exposed to temperature changes. Moisture trapped against a cube can cause corrosion or dull the light over time, and a wet character stuffed next to clothes can leave a damp spot.

The fix is not complicated. Treat each piece like a small piece of electronics that happens to love water: dry it after every use, give it airflow when stored, and keep it from being crushed. That approach also makes packing faster because everything has a place.

• Never pack a cube or character that still has visible water droplets on it.
• Avoid leaving Glo Pals in a hot car or a freezing trunk for long periods.
• Keep small cubes away from keys, coins, and other metal items that can scratch them.

How to dry Glo Pals before storage

After bath time, shake each Light-Up Cube and character gently to remove excess water. Place them on a clean towel or a small drying rack with space between them. Do not pile them on top of each other; trapped moisture between two cubes takes much longer to evaporate and can leave a musty smell.

Let them air-dry completely. Depending on humidity, this can take a few hours or overnight. If you are packing the same evening, pat each piece with a dry towel and then leave it in front of a fan for 20 to 30 minutes. A hair dryer on a cool setting also works, but keep it at a distance and never use heat.

• Check the back cavity of each character, where a cube sits, for trapped water.
• Dry the seam around each cube, not just the flat faces.
• If you smell anything stale, wash with mild soap and water, rinse, and dry again.

Choosing a travel container

The best travel container is small, breathable, and slightly padded. A mesh pouch, a drawstring bag made of cotton, or a hard pencil case with a few air holes all work. Avoid sealing Glo Pals in a zip-top plastic bag for more than a day, because any remaining moisture stays trapped inside.

If you are flying, put the pouch in your carry-on rather than a checked bag. That way the toys stay with you, and you can keep them from being crushed by heavier luggage. For car trips, a small bin or a dedicated pocket in the diaper bag keeps cubes from rolling under seats.

• Label the pouch so it does not get mistaken for a toiletry bag.
• Add a small silica gel packet only if it is in a separate pouch and cannot be swallowed.
• Keep characters and cubes together so you are not hunting for a missing piece at bedtime.

Packing Glo Pals for a trip

Start with a dry pouch. Place characters in first, then tuck cubes into the character cavities or a separate small pocket. If you are bringing an Ocean Explorer Bundle or several characters, wrap each one in a thin cloth or a sock to prevent scratches. Pack the pouch near the top of your bag so it does not get crushed.

Bring one or two extra Light-Up Cubes if you have them. A single cube can be the difference between a calm bath and a meltdown, and spares are small. If you are traveling with a sensory bin, pack the cubes separately from any dry filler so the filler does not scratch the lenses.

• Do not pack Glo Pals next to sharp toiletries, tweezers, or nail clippers.
• Keep the pouch out of direct sun in a hot car.
• If space is tight, choose one character and two cubes rather than the whole collection.

Using Glo Pals in a new bathroom

Before you drop a cube in the tub, test it in a cup of water. If it lights up, you are good to go. If it does not, dry it and try again; sometimes a cube needs a moment to activate. Hotel baths are often deeper than home tubs, so keep an eye on smaller children and use a stable bath mat.

After the bath, repeat the drying routine. Do not leave cubes sitting in water overnight, even if your child wants to keep playing. Water left inside a cube can shorten its life and cause the light to flicker. A quick towel-dry and a spot on the counter is enough.

• Use a clean cup or sink for a quick activation test before bath time.
• Never leave Glo Pals in a hotel sink or tub after use.
• If a cube stops lighting, dry it fully and check again before assuming it is broken.

Your 5-step Glo Pals travel routine

1. Dry completely after every use: Shake off water, place cubes and characters on a towel with space between them, and let them air-dry. If you are packing soon, pat dry and use a fan on cool for 20–30 minutes. Checkpoint: no visible droplets and no water in the character cavity before storage.
2. Store in a breathable pouch: Use a mesh bag, cotton drawstring pouch, or a hard case with air holes. Avoid sealing damp toys in plastic. Keep the pouch in a cool, dry place at home. Mistake to avoid: storing Glo Pals in a sealed zip-top bag while they are still damp.
3. Pack for the trip: Place dry characters and cubes in the pouch, wrap each piece in a soft cloth or sock, and put the pouch near the top of your bag. Bring at least one spare cube if you have one. Checkpoint: the pouch does not rattle against hard items and is easy to reach.
4. Test before bath time: At your destination, drop one cube in a cup of water to confirm it lights. If it does not, dry it and try again. Use a stable bath mat and supervise young children. Mistake to avoid: assuming a cube is broken before giving it a full dry and a second try.
5. Reset for the trip home: After the last bath, dry everything again, check for moisture, and repack the pouch. Do not leave wet toys in a suitcase or a hotel bathroom. Next step: once home, unpack and let everything air out before returning it to normal storage.

Glo Pals products that travel well

• Sammy® Light-Up Character: Includes 2 Liquid-Activated Light-Up Cubes. Simply place a Light-Up Cube in the back of Sammy, drop it into water, and watch it instantly glow. Because the cubes store inside the character, Sammy is a compact two-piece set that is easy to pack and hard to lose.
• Ocean Explorer Bundle: A treasure trove of Glo Pals best-sellers, including limited edition Ocean Light-Up Cubes, with bonus 10% savings. If you want multiple characters and cubes for a longer trip, a bundle gives you spares without buying each piece separately.
• Alex® Light-Up Character: The Alex Character includes 2 Light-Up Cubes so the fun can begin right out of the box. Designed and shipped with love from Starkville, MS. A single character with two cubes is a smart travel set: one cube can be in use while the other stays dry as a backup.

Glo Pals are designed for water play, and a simple dry-store-pack routine keeps them ready for every bath, whether you are at home or away. Treat each cube and character like a small piece of gear, and the glow will keep up with your family's adventures.